The opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party has dismissed the revised electoral roadmap that was recently unveiled by the Electoral Commission ahead of 2021 general elections.
In an effort to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Electoral Commission banned public rallies and announced that campaigns would be conducted through the media.
However, FDC says the initiative is undemocratic.
While appearing before the Legal and Parliamentary Affair Committee on Friday, the FDC President Patrick Amuriat Oboi said free and fair elections should remain paramount even during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The Forum for Democratic Change is strongly opposed to this initiative because it is undemocratic. Even as we strive to prevent and suppress the COVID-19 pandemic, free and fair elections should remain paramount to ensure the sovereignty, stability, security, well-being, and prosperity of Ugandans,” Amuriat said.
He further told the Committee that the initiative is an overreach and exceeds the limits of discretion constitutionally conferred on the Electoral Commission or Government.
“While this may contribute to prevention and suppression of COVID-19, we are concerned that this novel idea will have unwelcome effects of forbidding and discouraging active participation of all citizens at all levels in their governance and is therefore inconsistent with democratic principles as enshrined in paragraph II (i) of the National Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy and Articles 1(4) and 61(1)(a) of the Constitution,” Amuriat told the Committee.
He further argued that it will excessively trample on fundamental rights and freedoms enshrined in Articles 59 (1)(a) (right to vote), as together with Articles 29(1)(a), 29(1)(d), 29(1)(e) and 29(2)(a) which is freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, peaceful protest, freedom of association and freedom of movement respectively.
Amuriat said the pandemic should not be exaggerated to set arbitrary limits on people’s liberties.
“This is not the occasion to exploit the pandemic and amend the Constitution purposely to profit, secure and advantage some individuals or groups interested in retaining power by all means necessary. FDC does not support a hastily undertaken Constitution amendment aimed at rearranging politics in light of COVID-19 pandemic.”
He further told the Committee that the issue at stake is not when and on what political and Constitutional terms the pandemic will leave Uganda adding that COVID-19 pandemic cannot be prevented by Constitution amendment.
The EC’s insistence to hold a scientific election he said is not backed by the Constitution and reiterated that FDC opposes it in the strongest terms possible.
Amuriat, therefore, said that as FDC they propose that a transitional government should be formed.
“Should it be inevitable for the country to stray into murky waters of Constitution amendment, the only constitutional amendment that FDC would propose is for the introduction of a Transitional Government which will cater for a situation of no elections at a time when they are constitutionally supposed to take place and the time of the current Government is elapsing. A meaningful, inclusive national dialogue should inform the process of forming a transitional government,” said Amuriat.