Clergy push for electoral reforms

Archbishop of Kampala Archdiocese Cyprian Kizito Lwanga (left) and Archbishop of Church of Uganda Stanley Ntagali at Uganda Martyrs Shrine Namugongo on Wednesday, a day before they called for electoral reforms. Photo by Stephen Wandera

Kampala. Religious leaders have thrown their weight behind the calls for electoral reforms despite President Museveni saying Uganda does not need such reforms because it is one of the highly democratic countries in Africa.
“The assembly [Uganda Joint Christian Council (UJCC)] noted that elections constitute the building of democratic governance, which is essential for peace and sustainable development.

“The assembly expresses concern about the minimal nature of constitutional and electoral reforms that were undertaken in the run-up to the general election held in 2016,” the UJCC executive secretary, Rev Fr Dr Silvester Arinaitwe Rwomukubwe, said.
“In that regard, the assembly asked UJCC secretariat to continue to engage the government, political parties and all other stakeholders on the issues of comprehensive electoral reforms based on adequate consultation involving all stakeholders, including the civil society fraternity,” Rev Fr Rwomukubwe added.

He was addressing the press at Jevine Hotel during the closing of the UJCC annual meeting on Thursday. It was attended by the Council Chairperson and Archbishop of the Church of Uganda Stanley Ntagali, Co-chairperson Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga and a representative of Kampala Metropolitan Jonah Lwanga and Fr Stephen Lunagula. Government has ignored repeated recommendations by civil society, the opposition and other organisations to appoint an independent electoral commission to manage national elections. ]

The religious leaders meeting under the theme ‘‘striving for greatness through servanthood (Mathew 23.11)” also condemned sex education in schools, abuse of alcohol and called for sensitisation of the public on the proposed Islamic banking.
“We are making all these recommendations in good faith. The Church believes in dialogue and not confrontation,” ArchBishop Kizito Lwanga said.
Archbishop Ntagali called for dialogue between the ruling National Resistance Movement party and the opposition parties.

The opposition disputed the results of the February 18 elections, which President Museveni who won with 60 per cent of the vote. The opposition said the elections were rigged in favour of Museveni, a claim the NRM denies.
Former presidential candidate Kizza Besigye of FDC took the lead in disputing the elections and insisted he won the elections with 52 per cent with Mr Museveni receiving 45 per cent. He is now in Luzira prison on treason charges following a video posted on social media in which he appears to be swearing in as the new president of Uganda.

The reforms

Some of the electoral reforms demanded by the Opposition include:
•The Opposition demanded that an independent Electoral commission appointed by the Judicial Service Commission and approved by Parliament be instituted.
•Presidential term limits be reinstated in the Constitution.
•Putting an end to the use of military and other security agencies in elections.

•They demanded that the army be removed from Parliament.
•Equitable access to both private and public media during campaigns
•Provide for a running mate for the President
•Voters should be empowered to challenge the presidential result.
•Increase time given to challenge the presidential elections from 10 to 21 days.
•Supreme Court delivering the judgment after the elections be revisited.