Elections should be pushed to March - Sebaggala

Politicians and civil society activists have reacted on the recent Electoral Commission (EC) roadmap to be followed in 2021 general elections.

The EC last week rolled out a roadmap that provided for an election without holding mass rallies in order to follow the ministry of health guidelines against COVID-19 pandemic.

Other issues involved were the direction of political parties to send EC their flag bearers within a month and asking media houses to provide airtime to political aspirants during campaigns.

It was a heated debate between NRM secretariat media officer Rogers Mulindwa and People Power activist also Kawempe North MP Latif Sebaggala during Urban TV's CrossFire Saturday show hosted by Vision Group's Paul Busharizi.

EC had rolled out a roadmap in December 2019 to give stakeholders ample time to prepare for 2020/2021 election but the COVID-19 lockdown thought otherwise.

"So, because of the lockdown, we have lost three months and that means that we have to catch up with those three. Probably this is why we have that tight program" Hajat Aisha Lubega, Vice-Chairperson of the Electoral Commission who was also a panellist on the show submitted.

Political analysts labelled the entire road map as "scientific" exercise which the EC dismiss.

"If you're telling me that yes, we are going scientific, and you're saying we shall not have public rallies and gatherings and yet elections are anchored on ensuring voters interacting freely with the candidates, now how about on the polling day. So, we are having scientific rallies but not scientific voting" Sebaggala exclaimed.

"It's true that this scientific election is going to affect everybody because there are people we want to interact directly however for us we are already and I don't want to agree with him (Sebaggala) because there will be few people on the polling day," Mr.Mulindwa said.

"For us, we don't want to take this as an excuse because NRM is not going to be voted because of what we are going to tell the voters but what they have seen for the last four years, so we are not scared" Mulindwa added.

Sebaggala, however, asked EC to use March and April next year to organize an election which allows public rallies.

"Article 61(2) says that the elections have to be carried out in the first 30 days of the last 122 days so if you count backwards you find that the 30 days are lying between 10th February and 8th March, we can't do that because that is what the law says. For us EC we use the existing laws" Hajat Lubega explained.

Foundation for Human Right Initiative Executive Director Dr Livingstone Sewanyana who participated in the show via phone asked the EC to address the issue of provision of airtime and space for aspirants by media houses.

"How do you ensure that those owning media houses and are aspirants at the same time allow their competitors to address the electorate. The EC should release more guidelines in regard to this" Dr Sewanyana said.   

Besigye-Bobi Wine unity

The same Kyadodondo Legislator Kyagulanyi Sentamu known as Bobi wine and FDC's strongman Dr.Kizza Besigye announced plans of working together ahead of 2021 general elections.

"It is in our interest to have a single candidate in as far as the opposition is concerned and that's what we are working for and sooner than later it's going to be realized but, in every step, you must begin somewhere" Sebaggala reacting on the unity.

"Of course, we like the idea, unity for them is timely. When they get United it gives us an opportunity to direct our attention to one league. I have never been worried of Dr Kizza Besigye or Hon. Kyagulanyi, as an individual I'm more scared if it was Mugisha Muntu at the front" Mulindwa commented.

Cross-Fire is a Saturday live current affairs talk show aired between 9:00 am-11am.