Mubajje appeals for free and fair elections

POLITICS   2021 ELECTIONS

KAMPALA - Sheikh Shaban Ramdan Mubajje, the Mufti of Uganda has appealed to the Electoral Commission to work towards organizing free and fair elections.

He said there was a general feeling and fear among many Ugandans that the violence that was exhibited during the political party elections might surface again in the coming general elections.  

He described the recently concluded party primary elections as unpleasant and characterized by numerous loss of life, people sustaining injuries, use of tear gas in addition to arresting several people on suspicion of masterminding the violence.    

"Our country has just emerged from a number of unpleasant grassroots party primary elections. As religious leaders, we are concerned about the way the elections were conducted," he said. Sheikh who doubles as the chairperson of the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU) was Thursday speaking during a press conference at their offices in Bulange, Rubaga Division.

Reading from a statement, Mubajje said that as Uganda celebrates 58 years of Independence, religious leaders had taken time to reflect on their contributions to nation-building during the period.

"We noted that we have made tremendous contributions in the provision of education, health services as well as giving people meaning and hope during the turbulent times of our political history," the statement reads in part.   

He said Uganda has realized development in various sectors, including freedom of worship, in the oil and gas sector, infrastructure development, technology, entrepreneurship as well as peace and stability.

Speaking about challenges Uganda is facing, Sheikh Mubajje said several setbacks are disrupting the rate of development and nation-building including corruption, abject poverty, unemployment, governance, moral decadence, cyber fraud and civic deficiency and COVID-19 pandemic.

On the coming elections, Sheikh Mubajje said considering the mess that characterized the political party elections, there is still more to be done if the country is to achieve the free and fair general elections.

He said religious leaders advise the electoral commission to continue devising ways to win public confidence and to exercise its capacity to conduct a free and fair election, especially in the context of COVID-19.

He said the IRCU encourages continuous dialogue with key actors in the electoral process for a peaceful election.  

Msgr Charles Kasibante, the IRCU board chairperson, Canon Grace Kayiso and Joshua Kitakure, the secretary-general, among others, attended the press conference.

Mufti, however, said there was a concern of unfair treatment by security personnel towards members of the opposition on the pretext of non-compliance with the COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

He said at the same time many NRM leaders and government officials continue to organize big gatherings without observing the same.

Sheikh Mubajje called upon Ugandans to pray for the nation to go through the election exercise peacefully, adding that everyone had a role in protecting the fundamental human rights and freedoms during the electoral period.

"As council, we are optimistic that Ugandans can disentangle themselves from divisive politics and election mismanagement," he stated.