Members of the Citizens Coalition for Electoral Democracy, CCEDU have resolved to petition parliament’s legal committee and electoral commission over the latter’s decision to suspend its accreditation for what it terms as “Electoral Related Activities.”
In a letter dated July 4th addressed to Krispin Kaheru, the Coordinator CCEDU, the electoral commission accuses the group of being partisan.
“On 2nd July 2018, the commission met with CCEDU to consider your application to partner in conducting voter education for the ongoing electoral activities. In the same meeting, the commission expressed its concern about the partisan manner in which CCEDU has been conducting itself in the past elections which contravenes the provisions of sections of S.12 1 (i) ECA (Cap 140)” part of the letter reads.
The EC also blames Ms. Charity Ahimbisibwe a senior communications officer at CCEDU for branding the just concluded LC elections a sham while appearing on some local TV station.
“This was contrary to the big turn up registered countrywide and the public interest and yearning to have these Council/Committee elections conducted after such a long time” the letter states.
Adding that; “The commission and Uganda at large needs credible, honest and impartial partners to assess the electoral process and make pertinent recommendations. It is therefore upon this background that the Electoral commission has suspended its relationship with CCEDU until further notice” the letter concludes.
Now, during a meeting organized by members of CCEDU, several participants expressed discomfort with the fact that the suspension has no end date, and this might affect future elections. Ken Lukyamuzi the man, former Rubaga legislator and now activist said if there’s need for a public, national demonstration, he is willing to participate. “I would like the electoral commission to address itself to Article 1 of the constitution, “ Power belongs to the people”. If it becomes necessary for us to summon ourselves for a collective national demonstration, we shall do that.
At the end of the dialogue, members agreed to engage the electoral commission in dialogue and through a petition that will be shared with the legal committee of parliament, petition courts of law on the unfortunate decision and taking the issue to the court of public opinion.
Krispin Kaheru, the CCEDU Co-coordinator said they will not accept to be used by the EC as its PR machinery. “CCEDU will not become a PR machinery of the electoral commission, it will never happen” Kaheru noted.
He further explained that the EC does not determine CCEDU’s mandate, but rather the coalition members do. The coalition has 27,801members and 991 CSOs.
Jinja East MP Paul Mwiru, promised to deliver the petition to the parliamentary committee when members are finished with the signing process. Several members, who showed up for the meeting at CCEDU offices in Nsambya, signed the petition that will be delivered to parliament and EC.
According to Kaheru, this is just a battle, not war, but he promised members, that the coalition would win both the battle and war.
