By Ronald Ndawula
The by-election in Kisoro District is one of those conspicuous indicators that should alert the NRM leadership about the rot everywhere in the party primaries that has done a tremendous structural damage and threatens the existence of the entire party as it has eroded the credibility of the internal process.
A fair election does not only offer a process that is essential to a healthy democracy but ensures, party growth, peace, cohesion and security. There are several key factors that contribute to achieving fairness in elections, for example;-
Firstly, elections must be free, which means that all eligible voters have the right to be registered and given opportunity to vote for or against, and make their choice without fear or intimidation, in the NRM primaries I see candidates in Luwero registering and blocking others in cohorts with the election managers and others paying money to be declared winners even if they lack mass support.
Secondly, elections must be fair, which means that all registered political players have an equal right to contest in the elections, campaign and a seemingly levelled ground. However, in NRM primaries there’s this tendency of orders from above!
Last elections I saw a candidate with registers and election materials even before election materials were delivered to the district because one of the candidates without support was a CEC member with orders from above!
Thirdly, elections must be secure, which means that election systems and processes are free from interference from outside influence, adversaries or domestic political actors in a particular precinct.
If someone poses as a Statehouse candidate and wants to compete with a local candidate and all state machinery seems to favour the candidate and that gives him or her authority to subdue the will of others the whole process becomes null and void.
Lastly, elections must be accessible, which means that all voters have an equal opportunity to register, vote, and participate in the electoral process. Ensuring a fair election process is crucial, as it maintains our collective ability to shape the country’s future and protects voters’ trust in the results.
When primary elections become infringed by acts of voter fraud, intimidation, and suppression the whole idea of democracy fails. The people of Kisoro were very explicit about the candidate of their choice but the actors from the NRM election office, probably sought to impose their candidates through a pseudo-vote as usual and the result is the biggest shame in 40 years of NRM home ground!
This has been happening everywhere and it’s the reason why in Luwero NRM lost all parliamentary seats to NUP. There’s no way under the sun, candidate Gaddafi Nassur can win a General election in a Luwero constituency. To the people here they look at him as an imposed candidate from State House or President’s office and this is exacerbated by his bravado and aloofness that create a wage and incoherence from the locals.
Fraudulently imposing a candidate like what happened in Katikamu South primaries only emboldens the opposition and justifies the argument of people fighting with their government. The primary election should equally be held in a fair and free manner to promote the democratic process and the will of the people to be seen in manifestation.
On a sad note, in Katikamu North there’s a candidate who is already assured of winning the party primaries because he has settled the deal with the NRM party election officials but not the voters!!
Sour truth!
The writer is former LC5 Chairman for Luwero District and an NRM Cadre!
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