Religious leaders doubt Electoral Commission

Religious leaders have expressed concern about the low levels of preparedness by the Electoral Commission, which they described as a recipe for disaster.

“We are mindful of the fact that this country is going into election without minimum consensus on legitimacy and legality of the electoral body,” said Metropolitan Jonah Lwanga, the chairperson council of presidents, Inter-Religious Council of Uganda.

He added: “This, to us, is an issue we must deal with urgently if the outcome of the 2011 elections are to be accepted by all political groups.”
The leaders also condemned the acts of defacing and removal of posters of candidates orchestrated by misguided political extremists.

The council is the supreme body of all religious bodies in the country. It brings aboard the Catholics, Protestants, Muslims, Orthodox, Seventh Day Adventist, Bahai and the National Fellowship of Born-again Christians.
“The level of preparedness by the Electoral Commission has come under serious scrutiny. Up to now, Ugandans have not been presented with a final register yet the election day is fast approaching,” said Metropolitian Lwanga.

He noted with concern the decision by the EC to scrap the use of the voters’ cards during voting. “From our consultations with religious leaders throughout the country, people seem not to understand this development and its implications for free and fair elections in 2011,” he said at a press conference held in Namirembe on Thursday.

Metropolitan Lwanga made the remarks during the inauguration of the national task force on peace and conflict transformation. Mr Joshua Kitakule, the secretary general, said they had carried out national sensitisation with more than 2,000 religious leaders across the country who also expressed loss of confidence in the Dr Kiggundu-led commission, and loss of ethics in elections.

“We discovered a number of cross-cutting issues from the consultations, including the demand for the restoration of term limits on all political positions,” Mr Kitakule said.

The religious leaders observed the need to engage all stakeholders in constructive dialogue on this matter, including using available mechanism such as the inter-party cooperation to continuously review and assess the performance and level of preparedness of the EC.

The task force of nine will among others mediate between political parties, candidates as well as sensitise the public on peace, tolerance and reconciliation.

The committee will also be tasked with election observation.
Metropolitan Lwanga said this will be achieved and coordinated at a national conference due December 1-3rd that has been convened by Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi.

All presidential candidates and other senior politicians are expected to attend this conference whose theme is “The search for Reconciliation, Justice and Peace at all levels; Facing 2011 with Hope and constructive Action”.