A reading into the delay by Uganda Government to act on popular demand for Electoral Reforms.

The sustained effort by civil society and the opposition parties demanding for electoral reforms is a noble cause that should be applauded and fully supported by all patriotic and peace loving Ugandans. It is well-intentioned and an advance effort being dedicated towards augmenting the culture of democracy, accountability and future stability for our dear motherland.

The demand for amendment of the Constitution and Electoral Commission Act to create conducive electoral environment and establish truly Independent Electoral Commission is key to nurturing credible democratic practice and a secure means of locking out the prospect of resorting to violent and or/unconstitutional means to contest for power.

Electoral reforms is definitely just one set out of the many things that Uganda as a country needs to sort out, most importantly not everything can be done at the same time. This is the opportune time for the Electoral Reform Agenda, although it seems like time is running out each day that passes. There is a delicate balance here that needs to be handled with utmost sobriety to avoid falling into a dangerous trap. Now is the time intensify the push for electoral reform from all corners but also to be fully aware of the hurdles and that lay ahead so as to keep on the right track.  Despair should never be an option even if delay to act on part of government extends well beyond reasonable expectations and this is the most likely scenario.

Although it seems obvious that the delay on part of government is a calculated move to take undue advantage from the status quo; in my view the intention may be more sinister than it appears. It is not politics as usual and this is not the usual delaying tactic of the NRM government. I am highly suspicious that even the wider NRM family may not understand the inside workings of this seemingly unusual delaying tactic.

I suspect there is an undisclosed ploy with sinister motive which I think is work of a few top individuals who believe that President Museveni has to keep his office whether Ugandans like it or not. I think this ploy is aimed at overstretching and therefore exhausting the patience of the current voices that are advocating for a level playing field through the electoral reform agenda. I suppose the architects of this undisclosed ploy are hoping that frustration will inevitably cause a situation of hopelessness that may force some voices to come out openly and begin advocating for non-electoral means to be used to change the status quo. Unfortunately, this is the situation that will be manipulated and used as excuse to suspend constitutional order and set this beautiful and resourceful yet fragile country into the open fangs of full blown dictatorship - beautiful if my thinking turns to be wrong on this one.

At this point I can see fruition of the earlier declared threats that military can takeover government to save the country from civilian chaos. As you may recall, there is a whole range of suspicious but calculated events and statements that have happened in public domain over an extended period of time. These developments, on deep reflection do highlight a suspicious pattern although they unfortunately have minimal effect towards awakening the national consciousness in regard to their gravity.

There are clear indicators that President Museveni and his government is increasingly becoming weary of elective politics on realization that his hold on power is slowly but surely under increasing threat from opponents. This realization explains the alarming rate of commercialization of politics, ring fencing of political positions and all the maneuvering that comes with it, intimidation and harassment of political opponents using state machinery, complaints by President that the Electoral Commission is conniving with opposition to rig elections like the case of elections for Luwero Woman MP and all other wide spread desperate measures which government is employing to hold on to power.     

President Museveni’s anxiety and weariness of elective politics is not a new contradiction, it has come a long way and he has not been shy about it. He has on different occasion made statements that are clearly targeted at watering down the trust which the citizenry should have in the democratic processes like elections. His statements calculated and aimed at undermining the power of the ballot by calling it a mere piece of paper which cannot be used to take him out of power. The president is on record for saying that he came by the barrel of the gun not by the ballot, he has told Ugandans to be aware of the fact that; the force that makes is the force that breaks through his popular quote about “hammering of quarter pin into the bicycle”. These are not light statements, they are strong statements made by a serious citizen whose history is known to all.

President Museveni’s recent pronouncement while on visit to Kigezi region that he cannot leave power to wolves is very revealing. He seems very sure about his next move to ensure that the so called wolves will not takeover from him. I do not think that this twisted confidence is premised on the assumption that the populace owe him next mandate on the presidency simply because it is not logical. This is another glaring pointer about his resolve and therefore intention to rule the country with or without the mandate of the people.

I call upon our parliamentarian to rise above partisan politics and think about the future of our dear country as a common good that transcends political inclinations and short term political gains. This is the spirit with which they should handle the debate on impending electoral reform agenda when time comes. The opportunity to serve our nation at parliamentary level is a historic one that should never be squandered by any worthy right thinking man or woman who is entrusted by constituents.  I challenge you.

For God and My Country.