ODM questions Jubilee's role in Uganda's presidential campaigns

ODM has faulted Jubilee leaders for participating in the Uganda elections slated for Thursday.

The party’s Director of Elections Junet Mohamed accused the Government of violating Ugandans’ democratic rights. “We remain deeply concerned about the involvement of the Government of Kenya in the on-going Ugandan presidential election campaigns in support of incumbent President Yoweri Museveni,” Junet said.

He added, “For the last two days, a team led by Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen and which includes Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago, Endebbes MP Robert Pukose and Farouk Kibet, a personal assistant to Deputy President William Ruto, has traversed Sebei region of Uganda campaigning for President Museveni.”

The MP said the involvement goes against the tenets of good neighbourliness and the spirit of the East African Co-operation (EAC).

Last December, the Deputy President Ruto also accompanied the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party boss in a vote hunting mission in Sebei.

But CORD too has not hidden its preference for Museveni’s opponents. In October, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga invited key Ugandan opposition leaders Dr Kizza Besigye and Amama Mbabazi to Nairobi and urged them to unite.

President Museveni (pictured) hopes to hold off a crowded field of opposition in an election that pollsters predict to be the closest in history.

An opinion poll released by Research World International, put Museveni on the lead at 51 per cent and his fiercest challenger Kizza Besigye at 32 per cent. Former Premier and Museveni’s close ally turned rival Mbabazi was placed a distant third at 12 per cent.

Political analyst Prof Edward Kisiang’ani posits that the reason why the Jubilee government is keen to see Museveni get another term is because of economic and political interests.

“A status quo in Uganda is good for President Kenyatta. Politically, Museveni is on record criticising the International Criminal Court (ICC) for summoning his Kenyan colleague.

He is the only vocal leader from the region who has stood with Ruto who still has a case at the ICC,” observed Kisiang’ani.

According to Bramuel Matui, a senior lecturer at Moi University’s Department of Development Studies, it is a trend for the executive arms of governments of most East African Country’s to support the incumbent leadership and the party.

“There appears to be a norm over the years for top leaders in the region to back those in power in the nearby countries. Even Raila Odinga who is now backing the Opposition leaders in 2010 was in Uganda and he campaigned for Museveni,” he argued.

Other candidates in the crowded Uganda race are former Makerere University Vice Chancellor Prof Venansius Baryamureeba, Pastor Joseph Mabirizi, Bwanika Abed, Maureen Kyala and Benon Biraaro, none of whom endeared themselves to the public during the first ever televised Ugandan presidential debate that Museveni ignored.