Two months after the general elections, the European Union (EU) has released its final report on the elections. The 68 page report highlights events prior to the election and after.
The EU made some key observations on the use of state funds to facilitate the elections period, media participation in elections, code of conduct and electoral system.
Releasing the report today, Edward Scicluna, the Head of EU Observer Mission noted that there should be legislation limiting the role of government, its ministries and public officials from using public finances during elections. He noted that the laws are required to curb the use of state and government resources during the election to the advantage of the incumbent.
Scicluna noted that the implementation of public funding of political parties may help address the recent trend in monetization of the political process as would the full enforcement of the financing regulations established by the Political Parties Organisation Act. He observed that there was need to have financial accountability.
Cue in: financial accountability….
Cue out:…..not acceptable.//
The media was not spared either. The EU noted that conditions for freedom of speech and equitable access to the media would be improved by the creation of an independent regulatory authority, which would be achieved by merging the Media Council and the Broadcasting Council.
The report noted that an independent authority with statutory powers would help deal with complaints during elections adequately and would create a level playing field for media coverage as well as improve voter access to information.
But David Pulkol, UPC secretary policy and national mobilization noted that he was disappointed by the report.
To Pulkol, the report lacked a categorical position on its recommendations. He maintains that the 2011 general elections were not free and fair saying that the report is questionable.
//Cue in: Disappointed …..
Cue out:……free and fair.//
Equally disappointed was FDC’s Vice President, Salaam Musumba who says the EU has continuously regurgitated reports from one election to another. She observes that the report avoids the critical question of legitimacy and fails to give a clear position of its recommendations.
He says that all that is in the report is already known to the people of Uganda and has been pointed out by the opposition and civil societies before the elections took place.
//Cue in: From a political activists….
Cue out:…people of Uganda.//
The February 18th elections saw the incumbent president Yoweri Museveni take office for a fourth five-year term after defeating scooping 68% of the total cast votes. The opposition has since contested the results.
