CCEDU Condemns violence in the Jinja East by-elections
Citizen’s coalition for electoral Democracy in Uganda(CCEDU) has condemned the electoral malpractice experienced in the just concluded Jinja East by-elections.
Livingstone Sewanyana, the Chairperson CCEDU Executive Committee in a statement noted that the massive spill of violence denied many citizens especially women, persons with disabilities and the elderly a chance to express their electoral right.
He called for the immediate prosecution of all perpetrators of these heinous acts.But already eight men have been charged and granted bail by Jinja magistrates court. The eight were accused of inciting violence, indulging in malicious damage and assault during the just concluded Jinja East Parliamentary by election.
Sewanyana also asked the Electoral Commission and the Uganda Police Force to expeditiously investigate these malpractices and make public their report for action. The investigation, he says , should also look into the alleged cases of bribery and intimidation of voters.
In Jinja, many supporters of competing candidates were armed with stones, sticks, machetes and pangas, with a view of harming opponents and destroying property.
The events in Jinja make the need for electoral reforms a matter of immediate action. CCEDU urges parliament, the Attorney General’s office, the Electoral Commission and Political Parties to prioritize the need for electoral reforms.
Some of the critical electoral reform proposals fronted include: the restoration of the presidential term limits, recommendations to guarantee a clean and credible voters register as well as proposals to limit the number of special interest groups represented in parliament.
Other proposals are the need to streamline the army’s involvement in the maintenance of electoral security; the need to institute punitive measures for those who commit electoral malpractice.
Paul Mwiru, the FDC candidate won the seat with 7758 votes against his main rival Nathan Nabeta Igeme from NRM who garnered 6057 votes. other candidates in the race included: Alex Mufumbiro of the Democratic Party, Ritchie Oyo Osinde of the Uganda Peoples Congress and Cranmer Dhikusooka, an independent candidate.
