"Back Off" says Uganda electoral commission

Electoral commission chairman Eng. Badru Kiggundu warned election observers against making stinking statements. According to Kiggundu, they tend to undermine the credibility of the commission and are likely to plunge the country into chaos.

By Steven Fredrick Magomu, The Uganda Eye

“These people (election observers) should refrain from making statements which they cannot substantiate. If they continue to undermine the guidelines issued by the electoral commission while exercising the mandate, the commission will have no alternative but to cancel their accreditations,” Kiggundu stated.

 Presenting a paper, “Conducting free and fair elections; the state of preparedness of the electoral commission” at the 5th annual National Justice and Order forum. It was held at the Mbale resort hotel, where Kiggundu noted that many observers make statements which they cannot substantiate.

As the country is heading for the 2011 general elections slated for February 18, observers should behave in a responsible manner other than uttering statements to the general public which may cause unrest in the country as it was in Kenya, Kiggundu counseled.

“At one time during the referendum, I clashed with one of the observers when he openly said that 18% of the population did not understand what ‘referendum’ meant. Such statements are only intended to undermine the credibility of the commission,” insisted Kiggundu.

Kiggundu explained that to have a free and fair election, the  necessary conditions have to be in place and all the stakeholders get involved for instance the EC, government, legislature, judiciary, security agencies, political parties and general public rather than putting the blame on the commission alone.

“All along, the commission has been put on blame for failing to organize free and fair elections. Others have even demanded that Kiggundu should not head the commission. I go where? I was dully appointed according to the laws but when I hear people demonstrating on streets, I only laugh at them,” Kiggundu said with a rather loud voice.

The Inter-Party Cooperation has all along been embroiled in running battle with the police demonstrating and demanding for the disbandment of the Kiggundu election commission accusing it of being biased and only favoring the ruling party.

Kiggundu, however, commended government and the donors for the timely release of funds to go by the roadmap. This has led to tremendous achievements in sensitizing a well informed electorate and stakeholders, enhanced credibility of the voters’ register and timely procurement of materials and equipment.

He noted that there has been improved working relationship with the political parties and gradual improvement of the commission’s image. The chief Justice of Uganda, Benjami Odoki said Justice Laws and order sector [JLOS] plays a critical role in facilitating an orderly and peaceful election and argued it is important that we put that role in its correct perspective.

Odoki said challenges of previous elections demand that the Justice, Law and Order sector cannot be a passive spectator while the destiny of the country is being determined. The overall objective of JLOS is to ensure justice for all which is crucial to the exercise of free and fair elections.

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