SCARE TACTICS? The opposition say heavy deployment of the military, like these in downtown Kampala, was part of the wider rigging plan. PHOTO BY STEPHEN WANDERA .
Kampala
Barely 72 hours since the February 18 polls’ result was declared, pressure is mounting on the government and Electoral Commission as more presidential candidates contest the outcome and observers raise searching questions about the integrity of the process.
Democratic Party president general Norbert Mao yesterday morning joined three other candidates in refusing to recognise President-elect Museveni. He also denounced the EC, which declared Mr Museveni winner with 68 per cent of the vote, of being an accomplice in what he said was an unparalleled electoral fraud. “The outcome of an electoral process which is marred by massive rigging, bribery, intimidation and a disenfranchisement of voters cannot be legitimate. We cannot and will not accept as legitimate the outcome of such a manifestly flawed process,” he said.
The President, meanwhile, should have addressed a press conference yesterday. But by press time, media teams were still waiting to be told the time and venue for the briefing. Mr Museveni and his party deny allegations of any malpractice levelled against them and have warned of firm action against post-election protests.
Between Friday and Monday, the Forum for Democratic Change leader, Dr Kizza Besigye, Uganda Peoples Congress’ Olara Otunnu and independent candidate Sam Lubega had individually promised to take steps that they say will return the country to the path of constitutional and true democratic rule.
The four candidates are leaving all options open as they reject the outcome of what they agree was a “sham election”. Separately, the only female candidate in the race, Ms Beti Kamya, has also denounced the election as unfree and unfair, and fraught with intimidation and bribery.
Yesterday, Mr Mao also declared what he called a campaign of defiance against the “illegitimate” government of Mr Museveni. The DP leader said “what President Museveni and the NRM have done can only be categorised as a coup against the people of Uganda”, arguing that “through fraud, intimidation and bribery, the Ugandan people have been denied the right to exercise a free choice.”
http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/1112940/-/c4m2n1z/-/index.html
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