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Growing and Serving Together

UGANDAJOINTCHRISTIANCOUNCIL

PRESSRELEASE

25February2016

PreliminaryReportonthePresidentialandParliamentaryElectionsof2016

1. IntroductionUgandaJointChristianCouncil(UJCC)observedthepresidentialandparliamentaryelectionsthatwereheldon18thFebruary,2016followingaccreditationbytheElectoralCommission.InthisPreliminaryReport,wewouldliketosharewithyouanoverviewofourfindingsandobservationsandrecommendationsdictatedbytheexigencyoftheprevailingsituation.Weare intheprocessofcompilingaFinalReport inwhichwe intendtodelvedeeper intowhathappened.Oncethereportiscompiled,weshallpublishitfortheconsumptionofallthestakeholders.Thispreliminaryreportisdividedintofourparts:(1)GoalandobjectivesofUJCCs Election Observation Mission, (2) Methodology and scope of the observationexercise,(3)anOverviewoftheFindingsand(4)ourObservationsandRecommendations.

2. GoalandObjectivesUJCCinvolvementinelectionobservationwasdictatedbythedesiretocontributetowardsbuildingabetter future forUgandansrooted inthe ideathatthewillofthepeople isthebasisoftheauthoritytogovern.Ournationalconstitutionof1995providesthatthewillofthepeopleonwhoshallgovern themandhow theyshallbegovernedshallbeexpressedthrough regular, free and fair elections or through referenda. The elections of 2016providedUgandanswith theopportunity to choose leaderswhowill govern them forhenextfiveyearsaftertheexpirationofthetermofofficeofthecurrentleadersinMay,2016.3. MethodologyandScopeofObservationUJCCobservedthenominationofpresidentialcandidateswhichwasconductedon3rdand4th November, 2015.UJCC also observed the campaigns to a limited extent and polling,countingandtallyingofvotesanddeclarationofresults.Wetrainedanddeployedatotalof863observers includingabout696pollwatchers.Theywereequippedwithguidelinesandcheckliststohelpthemindischargingtheirduties.Itisimportanttounderscorethefactthatanelectionisnotjustaboutvoting,countingandtallyingofvotes.Itisalongprocesswhichinvolvesamultiplicityofactivities including legislative reforms, the registrationofvoters,nomination of candidates, campaigns, polling, counting and tallying of votes, complaintshandlinganddeclarationofelectionresults.However,themainfocusofthisreportisonthe

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challengeswe identified during the campaign period, polling day aswell as postpollingperiod.Weshalladdressall theaspectsof thepresidentialandparliamentaryelections inourFinalReport.Thefollowingareourpreliminaryfindingsandrecommendations.

3.1 Campaigns

The campaignswere conducted generallypeacefully in allpartsof the country. Thiswaslargely attributed to the harmonization of the candidates campaign programmes by theElectoralCommission.Therewerea few incidentsofviolence. Inapressstatementwhichweissuedon17thFebruary,2016wecondemnedtheexcessiveuseofforcebymembersofthesecurityforceswhichresultedintothedeathofonepersoninKampalaandurgedthemtorespecthumanrightsindischargingtheirdutiesandtoexerciserestraint.

3.2 Polling,Countingandtallyingofvotes

Polling Day, 18th February, 2016 was an historic occasion. We commend the people ofUgandawhoturnedup in largenumbersacrossthecountrytoexercisetheirrighttovote.However,thereweresomechallengesduringpolling,countingandtallyingofvotespriortothe declaration of results of the presidential elections by the Electoral Commission onSaturday,20thFebruary,2016.Thefollowingisanoverviewofthechallengesidentified:

3.3 Delayedopeningofpollingstations

There was inordinate delay in opening of polling stations in some parts of Kampala,especially inMakindyeEastandMakindyeWestconstituenciesasaresultofthefailureoftheElectoralCommission todelivervotingmaterials in time.Theextentof thedelaywastroublesome.ForexampleatSt.PetersNsambyaPollingStation,votingstartedat12.30pm.AtMunyonyo Primary SchoolNZ Polling Station inMakindyeWest Constituency, votingstartedat1.00pm.SimilarpatternofdelayedopeningofpollingstationwerealsowitnessedatTankHillPrimarySchoolPollingStationandatSt.PaulPrimarySchoolNsambyawherevotingstartedat1.30pm.AtKiwulirizaPrimarySchoolNZ inMakindyeEastConstituency,voting started at about 2.15pm. And, atOur Lady ofMt Carmel Catholic Church PollingStationinMakindyeEastConstituency,votingstartedat3.00pm

3.4 Peoplefailingtofindtheirnamesonthevotersroll

Somepeoplecouldnotfindtheirnamesonthevotersroll.Forexample,inRukungiriDistrictourobserversnotedthatat least13people infivepollingstationscouldnotvotebecausethey were informed that their names were not on the voters roll. Similarly in KanunguDistrict,thereweretenpeople in3pollingstationswhocouldnotfindtheirnamesonthevotersrollandthereforetheycouldnotexercisetheirrighttovote.

3.5 IrregularitiesDuringPollingInsomepollingstations,electionofficialsassistedvoterswithdisabilitiestovote.InKobokoDistrict alone our observers reported 31 such incidents.At a polling station inAmolatarDistrict,ourobserverreportedthatpollingofficialsweredirectingelderlyvoterstovoteforoneofthepresidentialcandidates.Thissparkedprotestsfromthecandidatesagents.

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3.6 MalfunctioningoftheBBVSMachineOur observer reported that in Amach Polling Station in Erute South Constituency, LiraDistrict,theBBVSmachinefailedtoidentify10peopleeventhoughtheirnameswereonthevotersreoll.Likewise,inTukumPollingStationinDakabelaConstituency,SorotiDistrict,theBBVSmachine indicated thata ladywhosenameandphotographwereon thevoters rollhadalreadyvotedandyetshehadnotvoted.Afingercheckedconfirmedshehadnotvotedbutshewasdeniedtherighttovote.

3.7 PostponementofVotingIn Dokolo South Constituency, voting for Directly Elected Member of Parliament waspostponed due to a mixup in the photos of two of the contestants. At Gaba TradingGabudyeriPollingStationinMakindyeEastConstituency,allthefourpollingstationslocatedintheareadidnotvoteon18thFebruary,2016.Thiswasbecausevotersbecamerowdyandtheyburntsomevotingmaterials.Ourobservernotedthatthepollingmaterialswerenotonlybrought latebutwerealsobrought inbits.Theobservernoted thatwhen theboxeswereopened, theballotpapers for thePresidential candidatesweremissing.AtStDenisSecondaryGabaPollingStationwheretherewereseven(7)pollingstations,votingwasalsopostponedto19February,2016duetoriotslinkedtodelayeddeliveryofpollingmaterials.

3.8 Delayinannouncementofresultsbysomereturningofficers

Therewas inordinatedelay inreleasingelectionresultsatsomedistricttallycentres. Inatleasttwodistricts,namelyKaseseandAlebtong,teargaswasusedtodispersestakeholderswhohadbecomeangryandweredemandingexplanationforthedelay.

3.9 Lackoftransparencyinparliamentaryelectionresults

InGuluDistrict,ourobserversnotedthatthereturningofficerdeclaredthewinnerswithoutannouncingtheresultsscoredbyeachofthecandidateswhocontestedtheparliamentaryelections. In the case of one of the constituencies, the declarationwas made against abackgroundofallegedballotstuffing,anallegationwecouldnotverify.

3.10 Failuretoaccountforvotesfromalargenumberpollingstations

ThepresidentialelectionresultsreleasedbytheElectoralCommissiononSaturdayexcludedvotes from severalpolling stations. In JinjaDistrictwith233,848 registered voters in399pollingstations,theCommissionreceivedfromonly11pollingstations.InKyenjojoDistrictwith186,538registeredvotersin337pollingstations,theCommissionreceivedresultsfromonly60pollingstations.InKampalawith1,014,294registeredin1,338pollingstations,theCommission declared results from only 1,176 polling stations. This begs the followingquestions:(1)WhywerevotesfromtheaffectedpollingstationsnottalliedbytheElectoralCommission?(2)Wasthereresultstransmissionsystemfailureintheaffecteddistricttallycentres to the national tally centre in Namboole? (3) Was it a case of inefficiency andincompetenceonthepartofthereturningofficers?

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3.11 Voterturnout

Therewasgenerallyhighvoterturnout.HoweverfromtheresultspublishedbytheElectoralCommission, therewas a greatdealof disparity in the voter turnout in various districts.Districts which registered very high voter turnout include Buhweju (81.94%), Napak(78.81%), Kapchorwa ((79.92), (Mitooma (73.53%), Kween 77.66%) .Districts whichregisteredrelatively lowvoterturnout includeKampala(46.33%),Amuru(49.88%),Wakiso(50.67%),Nwoya(53.78%),Gulu(54.97%)andIsingiro(55.03%).Whatinfluencedthevoterturnout?Was itdueto inadequatevotereducation?Was itduetovoterapathy,a feelingthatvotingisawasteoftime?Wasittheresultofpoliticalmobilizationbythelocalpoliticalleaders?This,inourview,wouldbeaninterestingsubjectofresearch.

3.12 HighnumberofinvalidvotesinsomeareasAccording to thereportof theElectoralCommission,somedistrictsregisteredaveryhighnumber of invalid votes. Virtually all the districtswith unusually high number of invalidvotes are from Northern Uganda. The districts concerned include Kaabong (12.63%),Maracha(10.59%),Adjumani(9.81%),Kotido(9.47%),Arua(9.43%),Moroto(8.87%),Kitgum(8.43),Nebbi (8.00%). In our view, the high level of invalid votes is largely attributed toinadequate civic education. But there is certainlymore to it.We have noticed from theresultsof thepresidentialelectionspublishedby the ElectoralCommission that inOtukeDistrict,atotalof28,789peoplevotedforthepresidentialcandidatesandwereno invalidvotes.UJCCpersonnelobservedelections ina fewpolling stations inOtukeandwehavereservations regarding theauthenticityof the figureabout invalidvotespublishedby theCommission.Inourview,thiswouldalsobeanotherinterestingsubjectofresearch.4. ObservationsandRecommendationsThereweresomepositiveaspectsofthepresidentialandparliamentaryelections.First,theexerciseofnominatingpresidentialcandidateswasconducted inatransparentmannerbythe Electoral Commission. Secondly, the introduction of the National Identity Card, theBiometricVoterVerificationSystem(BBVS)andtheVoterLocationSlips(VLS)wasastepintherightdirection.ThechallengewhichourobserversnotedwasthatsomepollingofficialsdidnotknowhowtooperatetheBBVSmachine.Insomecases,themachinesfailedtoworkproperly.Thirdly,votingwasconductedpeacefully inmanypartsofthecountry,except inareaswherepeopleriotedduetodelayeddeliveryofpollingmaterials.Fourthly,inmostofthepollingstationsacrossthecountry,votingmaterialsweredeliveredearlyandvotingalsobeganearly.However,therewerealsomanyshortcomings,ashighlightedabove.Thearrestsandcontinueddetentionofoneofthepresidentialcandidates,Dr.KiizaBesigye,atthiscriticalperiodoftheelectoralexerciseonsecuritygroundisaworryingdevelopment.Wedoacknowledge that security isan important factor inanyelection.However,article221 of the Constitution of Uganda enjoins the security personnel to observe respecthumanrightsandfreedomsintheperformanceoftheirfunctions.UJCCnoteswith concern thatDr.Besigyehasbeenarrestedby the security forcesaboutfourtimessince16thFebruary,2016buthehasnotbeencharged inanycourtof lawwith