Election Observer Boss Rings Alarm Bell over Limited Transparency and Violence

Excessive use of force by security forces and the continued use of money during elections were major concerns at a multi-stakeholder election dialogue.

The meeting was attended by the Electoral Commission, Uganda Human Rights Commission, Police, human rights activists, and political parties.

Sarah Bireete, Chairperson of the Eastern Horn of Africa Election Observers Network and Executive Director of the Centre for Constitutional Governance(CCG), said the purpose of the dialogue was to identify key areas that need monitoring to strengthen electoral integrity in Uganda.

Bireete pointed out four major concerns regarding Uganda’s elections: violence by security forces, especially the Army, commercialisation of politics, human rights violations, and lack of transparency in the transmission of election results.

According to Bireete, the last elections involved serious human rights violations, including abductions and the mass arrests of young people, many of whom remain in prison.  Additionally, Bireete said they have tasked the Electoral Commission with ensuring transparency in Uganda’s elections, especially in vote counting and result transmission. 

She urged the Electoral Commission to improve transparency in the transmission, tabulation, and announcement of presidential results to restore public trust in electoral outcomes.

Norbert Mao, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, acknowledged that Uganda’s military has a strong international reputation for peacekeeping and as a model for counter terrorism and counterinsurgency operations.  However, Mao said it is shameful that the same military is accused of violating human rights and civil liberties within Uganda.

Ahead of the upcoming elections, Mao called on Ugandans to openly express their expectations of the security forces. He emphasised that the Uganda Police, not the military, should be on the front line in dealing with civilians, as it is trained for such roles.

Mao also stressed the need to invest in initiatives aimed at eradicating poverty, noting that the commercialisation of politics thrives when citizens are economically vulnerable.  He highlighted the importance of civic education to help citizens understand the dangers of selling their votes.

Mao further called for a level playing field in politics, especially during campaigns, where citizens can freely assemble and politicians can hold rallies and mobilise voters.

He emphasised that while the police are mandated to regulate gatherings, they should not stop them. Mao revealed that a draft statutory instrument under the Public Order Management Act is currently with President Museveni, who requested time to consult the National Security Council.

The purpose of this instrument, Mao said, is to clearly define the limits of police powers. He acknowledged that the police often exercise broad discretion, which can lead to abuse and violent dispersal of gatherings.

“I have not lost hope in Uganda having free and fair elections, particularly with the introduction of biometric voter verification machines,” Mao remarked.

Mao emphasised that the main purpose of biometric voter verification and identification is to combat ballot stuffing. He stated that it will be an offence under the law for a presiding officer to submit results that do not match those from the biometric machines.

Julius Mucunguzi, spokesperson for the Electoral Commission, said that holding free, fair, and credible elections is a collective responsibility of all stakeholders involved in the electoral process.  Mucunguzi added that, by law, the Police are responsible for securing the election process, but how they execute this role is entirely up to them.

He mentioned that the Electoral Commission has been engaging with security agencies, particularly the Police, to educate them on what elections are and what their responsibilities entail.