By Leonard Kamugisha Akida
KAMPALA
The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has accused the Electoral Commission (EC) of failing to ensure a free and fair election in the recently concluded Kawempe North by-election.
FDC President Eng. Patrick Oboi Amuriat (POA) condemned the electoral violence witnessed during the election, blaming the EC for not taking action to prevent security misconduct. He argued that it is the commission’s mandate to ensure a peaceful and credible electoral process.
On polling day, several individuals, including journalists, were reportedly assaulted by security officers. In some polling stations, electoral materials were allegedly destroyed. FDC claims this intimidation disenfranchised voters and denied them their right to freely cast their ballots.
The party also claims that its candidate, Mukiibi Sadat, also known as Kalifah Aganaga, was cheated. According to FDC, the official tally of 239 votes cast for him was inaccurate.
“As we congratulate the declared winner of the by-election, we cast doubt on the results allocated to our candidate, which placed him a distant fifth. Having previously participated in elections in Kawempe North, we affirm that this result does not reflect our strength in this constituency. We believe this discrepancy was caused by the confusion created by security forces, particularly in polling stations where votes were never counted,” Amuriat said.
Furthermore, the party claims that voting did not take place in Kazo Angola after electoral materials were destroyed. FDC has threatened legal action against the Electoral Commission.
“Mr. Ssebunya Sharif, our candidate for Councilor in Kazo-Angola Central, will never know how many votes he received because his area was among those where ballot boxes and papers were destroyed. We are preparing to take legal action to recover costs incurred during this election,” the party stated.
FDC also criticized the National Resistance Movement (NRM) for planning to challenge the election results in court, arguing that such an attempt undermines democracy and disregards the will of the people.
“We believe the people of Kawempe North made their choice clear, despite intimidation from security forces, bribery, and rigging. Mr. Museveni must have the decency to respect the decision of the people,” FDC stated.
The party strongly condemned the attacks on journalists during the election and demanded compensation for those who were assaulted or had their equipment confiscated or damaged.
“This violence against journalists is unacceptable and undermines press freedom and democracy. Journalists play a crucial role in holding those in power accountable and providing citizens with accurate information. They must be able to perform their duties without fear of intimidation or violence,” FDC said.
Amuriat reiterated the party’s commitment to supporting press freedom and ensuring the safety of journalists, emphasizing their essential role in a democratic society.
