Opposition hints at 2011 poll stay-away

Kampala

The Electoral Commission headed by Eng. Badru Kiggundu “will not” organise the 2011 elections, Dr Olara Otunnu, a retired UN diplomat, has said.

Dr Otunnu was speaking on 93.3 Kfm’s Hot Seat talkshow on Thursday. This is the first hint that the Inter-Party Coalition, a grouping of opposition parties to which the UPC, Dr Otunnu’s party belongs, may boycott the 2011 election.

He did not say outright that such a boycott was being planned. “This EC is part of the NRM rigging machine. It is as clear as that. There is no way that one can have a free and fair election under this lot,” he said.

However, IPC members have participated in by-elections currently organised by the Kiggundu commission, the most recent being the Mbale by-election in which the Forum for Democratic Change candidate beat his rival from the ruling National Resistance Movement party. FDC, a member of the IPC is also fielding a candidate in the upcoming Rukiga county by-elections.

No choice
FDC spokesperson Wafula Oguttu said yesterday that the view of the IPC is that no credible elections could be expected from the EC as it stands. “We are pushing for Kiggundu to be removed. We have not decided to boycott but if he remains there will be no elections. We shall disrupt them,” he said, adding that the IPC would be left with no choice.

When asked how IPC members including FDC were still fielding candidates in by-elections he said the body was using it as a strategy to show that even after numerous examples including two Supreme Court rulings “ the NRM continues to rig”.

Dr Otunnu did not say directly what the Opposition would do to force the disbandment of the EC. “Take it from me my dear friends, this elections commission will not organise the next election,” he said.

Dr Otunnu also said a US Congressional directive asking the State Department headed by US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton to closely monitor the road to the 2011 elections was a sign of future pressure.

Asked if the EC had caught wind of plans by the IPC to abstain from the 2011 election, the deputy EC head, Mr Joseph Biribonwa, said IPC members were already participating in the EC roadmap to the poll.