Uganda: Will Prayers Breed Democracy?

Published on 25th October 2010

Uganda's President & First Lady with clerics
Uganda politics never cease to amuse us: now the Electoral Commission (EC) holds prayers for the forth coming elections!! Since when did the EC or government for that matter give prayer an integral place in the life of the country? Can this stage-managed prayer by EC add credence to its soiled image both home and abroad?  Nothing can take the place of responsibility, not even prayer. Religious leaders who are so cheap to be used by those who use prayer for hoodwinking the public will soon lose their credibility when Ugandans wake up.
 
Where did prayer ever destroy corruption, indignity, nepotism and intolerance? Religious leaders should call people to listen to the sense of reason and cease the political games that marginalise people and disenfranchise the Ugandans of their right to elect a government in a free and fair election.
 
Free and fair election requires that we have an electoral commission that is free from state control and  interference from anybody. Uganda has never had such a commission. The Dr. Badru Kiggundu commission is incapable of organising a free and fair election: it failed before and it will fail again. It lost credibility long ago not in how and what they did, but in its formation- it was formed by one party.  Parliament is not capable of  giving  credence to the EC (itself lacks credibility.) The ruling party ought to consult with opposition parties and establish a new electoral body based on consensus.
 
I see no reason for the ruling party and Mr. Museveni in particular for refusing to reform the electoral commission unless he truly believes that his only chance of staying in power lies within a commission he is able to manipulate. If however Mr. Museveni believes in the people of Uganda whom he occasionally reminds that power belongs to them, he should not be worried at all.  I have always thought that Mr. Museveni enjoyed good support from Ugandans to keep him in power as long as they wanted without having to resort to rigging election. If I was him, I would try it out and see how much genuine support I have instead of staying in power while I am constantly reminded of rigging my way to power.
 
Mr. Museveni has every reason to live a far more dignified leadership: he has achieved and done much and should not be tempted fizzle out all these monumental achievements for a term in office which has been squeezed out of people.
 
For the sake of peace and dignity of Uganda, the issues that may negatively affect the forthcoming election should be dealt with now. As it stands, Dr. Kiggundu and his commission should be replaced by one, that is representative of the wishes of all Ugandans, not just one ruling party.
 
This cannot be achieved by people organising the so called national prayers. Prayers can never take the place of responsibility. The best prayer is to change our attitude towards power, jobs and wealth. Then, Uganda shall prosper.
 
By Kayumba David.
Student of peace, Belgium.


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