European Union envoy calls for electoral reforms

Democratic moves. The envoy says if people are dissatisfied, they express themselves in Parliament through their Members of Parliament and if there is a channel that exists for this debate to take place, it does not always need to take place on the streets.

Visiting European Union envoy Nick Westcott has said there is urgent need to implement electoral reforms that include an overhaul of the current Electoral Commission and the complete free-up of political space in the country.

Mr Westcott yesterday said Uganda will not make valid gains in its democratic path, if it fails to embrace calls for reforms.

“The last elections [in February 2011] were observed by European electoral observation mission and they came up with a set of recommendations for ways to ensure that the Electoral Commission, for example, is not only independent but seen to be independent,” said Mr Westcott, Africa head of the European External Service, a department set up in 2009 to serve as a foreign ministry and diplomatic corps for the EU.

Mr Westcott’s comments, which come exactly four years ahead of the next general election, speak of a subtle push by Uganda’s biggest development partner, the EU, in extracting reform from President Museveni’s administration.
The government took a lot of flak for the conduct of the February election, just as it did with the 2001 and 2006 elections, with many critical of the Museveni-appointed and Badru Kiggundu-led Electoral Commission.

The current EC is led by seven commissioners whose contracts were renewed in 2010. Serving a fresh seven year-term, the commissioners will superintend over the next general election in 2016.

Mr Westcott had a meeting with Parliament Speaker Rebecca Kadaga yesterday and another with President Museveni. Both meetings were held in camera.

A statement from Mr Museveni’s office said Mr Westcott commended the NRM leader “for the role Uganda he is playing in trying to bring peace to Somalia.”

However, speaking after meeting Ms Kadaga, Mr Westcott said: “Neither I nor the Speaker pretended that everything here is perfect but nevertheless the progress that has been made in recent years is striking. The active role that Parliament is playing is very productive and therefore prospects of the future are good.”

Asked to comment about the government’s recent clamp down on public demonstrations and ensuing clashes between security forces and the opposition, Mr Westcott admitted there is need for both parties “to operate within the law.”

egyezaho@ug.nationmedia.com