A prominent opposition leader says Ugandans will no longer tolerate rigged elections, after what he says have been years of voter irregularities and polls that are skewed in favor of President Yoweri Museveni and his ruling National Resistance Movement. Kizza Besigye says there is a need for electoral reforms to ensure an equal playing field for opponents of the NRM before elections are held. Uganda is scheduled to hold a general election next year. But opposition and civil society groups have called for a postponement of the poll until the electoral reforms are implemented to ensure transparent, free, fair and credible future elections.
Their demands came ahead of a parliamentary group’s call for the government to consider rescheduling the upcoming election until constitutional amendments are done to pave way for the electoral reforms.
Besigye says a majority of Ugandans support the call for electoral reforms.
“All the proposals that have been tabled before the parliamentary committee have been all pointing at the need for fundamental electoral reforms. And this is indeed against the background of having a country where no single leader has ever handed over power to another,” said Besigye.
Full Article: Uganda Opposition Wants Electoral Reforms, Vote Postponed.