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Uganda Opposition Fears 'Intimidation' Ahead of February 18 Vote

   Peter Clottey  February 10, 2011

   Uganda's main opposition leader and Inter Party flag bearer, Dr. Kiiza
   Besigye,  addresses  his supporters at Masaka Lyantonde, about 200 kms
   west of Kampala capital Uganda. Saturday, Nov. 6, 2010

   The  national  chairperson  of  Ugandaâs  main  opposition  Forum  for
   Democratic   Change   (FDC)   Womenâs  League  said  President  Yoweri
   Museveniâs  government has, in her words, strategically employed state
   security  agencies  to  systematically intimidate and harass opponents
   ahead of next Fridayâs presidential and parliamentary vote.

   Ingrid  Turinawe,  who is also a parliamentary candidate for Rukungiri
   district, told VOA the composition of the electoral commission poses a
   herculean  task for the opposition parties ahead of the February 18^th
   poll.

   âWe  are  getting used to what is happening here, intimidating voters,
   using  security organs to tear (down) our campaign posters, beating up
   supporters,  beating  up  journalists and itâs actually a strategy for
   him (Mr. Museveni) to either win or rig the election.â

   But, supporters of the ruling National Resistance Movement have denied
   the accusations as baseless and without merit.

   Ugandan  opposition  groups  have  rejected  previous election results
   saying the electoral commission is biased towards President Museveniâs
   National  Resistance Movement (NRM) party â a charge supporters of the
   ruling party deny.

   President   Museveniâs  opponents  have  expressed  concern  that  his
   re-appointment  of  the  same members of the electoral commission that
   organized the previous two elections will undermine the credibility of
   the vote.

   Turinawe denied accusations the opposition is arming militias to cause
   instability ahead of the election.

   âI  donât think the opposition is forming militia groups to counteract
   (government)  intimidation  because  President  Museveni  is using the
   strong  hand  of  government  to intimidate people and, obviously, you
   canât fight with all those security organs,â Turinawe said.

   âHe  (Mr.  Museveni)  is using the army, he is using the police, he is
   training  the  local police, he is training the youth, militias and we
   actually  donât  know  what  is going to happen in the next (few) days
   remaining till voting day.â

   They  say  next  weekâs  vote  will  be  rigged  unless  there  is  an
   independent  electoral  commission  that  is  determined to organize a
   credible vote.

   âThe beauty of it is that the population is like fed-up (and) they are
   now  ready  to  face whatever comes. They are saying shedding blood or
   dying  for  peace and democracy, they are ready to die. Itâs like this
   time  around  they are ready to protect their votes, I think they will
   fight back,â said Turinawe.

   âThe situation on the ground gives us hope that the people will make a
   strong decision and protect their votes.â

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