Uganda must embrace a fair electoral process

Even before Yoweri Museveni had been declared President, observers of the Ugandan elections were unequivocal. They concluded that the process was unfair, lacked credibility and was marked by irregularities.

But this deduction had been expected after the main opposition candidate Kizza Besigye was arrested three times as the tallying was going on. According to the 13-nation Commonwealth Observer Group led by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, voter bribery and the misuse of state resources undermined the electoral process. The observers also raised issues about the competence, credibility and ability of the Electoral Commission to conduct fair elections and were particularly unhappy with the delays of supply of voting material to polling stations, particularly in Kampala.