28^th Feb 2011

Uganda’s leading opposition leaders have called on the people of Uganda to go to the streets to protest against what they say was Museveni’s fraudulent victory in the just concluded Presidential and Parliamentary elections.  Below is their statement of 24^th February 2011.

Introduction:

We [the] 2011 Presidential Candidates Dr Kizza-Besigye (IPC/FDC), Mr. Olara Otunnu (UPC), Mr. Samuel Lubega (Independent) and Mr. Norbert Mao (DP),  have met and  agreed to work together to establish a common non-partisan platform of  political parties and  civil society organizations with the  objective of advancing democracy. We have jointly reviewed the entire electoral process, its outcome of 18 February 2011, as well as the failed LC5 elections of yesterday, 23 February 2011. We have also considered the prevailing deep political crisis in the country.

As has been repeatedly pointed out by the opposition political parties and the civil society, the entire process and its outcome have not been free and fair. The election was characterized by widespread bribery by NRM using public funds, intimidation and threats of violence using the security forces, pre-ticking of ballots and ballot stuffing, multiple voting, ghost polling stations, disenfranchisement of voters, arrests and obstruction of opposition polling agents and all manner of cheating.  The electoral exercise has been a sham. We categorically reject the results of this scandalous process and will not recognize any government formed out of these elections.

The Context

For the past two decades, the people of Uganda, through their opposition political parties and civil society have been in a protracted struggle for peace and genuine multiparty democracy. At every turn, the NRM and Mr Museveni have been obstacles to the people’s aspirations. Even when he was prevailed upon by internal and external forces to embrace multiparty politics, Mr Museveni did so reluctantly and continues to undermine its genuine operation.

The people of Uganda led by the opposition parties have actively participated in four general elections (1996, 2001, 2006, and 2011), in which the NRM and Mr Museveni, subverted the will of the people through cheating and grossly violating their human rights.

Opposition parties have challenged the results in courts of law two times and successfully proved that the elections were neither free nor fair. However, on both occasions, the courts declined to cancel the fraudulent election results. In an effort to improve the management of the 2011 elections, opposition parties and civil society filed a number of court cases. These cases have either been dismissed on questionable grounds or are still not yet heard and concluded.

In addition to these efforts, the opposition political parties and civil society have also sought solutions through constitutional and legal reforms.  The NRM and Mr Museveni have failed these efforts through reckless misuse of their parliamentary majority.

It is now very clear that Ugandans cannot advance democracy through elections, the courts or parliament under Mr. Museveni and the NRM leadership. Other constitutional options have to be used to pursue democracy.

Ugandans will recall that in 1980, Mr Museveni alleged that the general elections had been rigged. Without seeking a solution from courts of law or parliament, he launched a war that cost an estimated 300 000 Ugandan lives and the destruction of an entire region of the country (Buganda). It is now evident that this high price that Mr Museveni made Ugandans to pay was not for genuine democracy but for his personal power.

In contrast to Mr Museveni who chose a violent option as his first solution, we have explored several constitutional options with no success. Nevertheless, we are determined to use constitutional means to advance democracy. The only option left, that is allowed by the constitution and which is peaceful to challenge the results of this sham election, is for the people to assert their sovereign power under Article 1 of the Constitution.

Under Article 3, the people of Uganda have the right and duty to defend the constitution and ensure that they are led by only those who have been elected through free and fair elections.

A Call to Action

Therefore, the time is now for the people of Uganda to rise and peacefully protest against the outcome of the 2011 elections and;

• Demand that no further fraudulent local government elections be conducted by the existing partisan Electoral Commission.

• Reject any government that may be formed out of these sham elections,

• Demand that fresh, free and fair general elections be organized under the following minimal conditions:

a)   An independent, competent and representative Electoral Commission, composed through criteria agreed to by all stakeholders be established.

b)   A clean voters register be compiled.

c)   A uniform method of voter identification be established.

d)   The UPDF, the ISO, ESO and all paramilitary groups be withdrawn from providing security during elections. This function should be left to the police.

e)   Illicit and massive deployment of money, most of it public funds; to bribe voters, polling agents and election officials be stopped.

f)    All candidates be availed equal access to pubic media.

g)   Voter education be conducted.

iv) Sign the Blue Book petition and other petitions and memoranda      calling for free and fair

We call upon all our leaders in every district to organize and address peaceful public rallies and matches to call for fresh elections under the terms above. We encourage all other peaceful and lawful actions by Ugandans everywhere, including the Diaspora, to call for fresh elections.

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