Earlier today morning, People Power Leader, otherwise known as Principal, Hon. Robert Kyagulanyi addressed the press on his movement’s position in light of the Electoral Commission (EC’s) recently released road map for “scientific” campaigns.
The tough talking Kyadondo East legislator insists that People Power will not take part in such a sham election that he says tramples upon the constitutionally guaranteed rights to citizens’ participation in a free and fair electoral process. Below is his full address.
STATEMENT ON THE SO-CALLED SCIENTIFIC ELECTION
Men and women of Uganda, I salute you for standing firm even when our nation stands on a shaky ground. Today we come together yet again when our country faces one of the greatest contradictions of our times.
The blood of the men and women who paid the ultimate price to restore democracy in our mother land is crying out. It has a been a long story of false promises and blatant lies. We have seen this all through the 35 years of blood and tears under the repressive Museveni regime.
When he moved to remove the age limit from the Constitution and crown himself life president, it began as a joke. In fact, he himself denied it in the beginning, but took only a few weeks before Parliament was raided, Members of Parliament were bribed and some of our people were killed fighting for the survival of our constitutional order.
Many Ugandans thought that was the worst they had seen! Nobody believed that there was any worse a person could do to stay in power! But now we all see that a dictator will go to any height and to any depth to keep in power against the will of the people.
Museveni, like all dictators before him, is determined to keep in power at any cost. He does not care what happens to the people of Uganda, as long as he is in State House!
Fellow Ugandans, Museveni is at it again. He recently met with the Electoral Commission and gave them orders to organize what he called a scientific election. Using the coronavirus as an excuse, he is banning public rallies and other aspects of an election as we know them!
No Ugandan should be fooled into believing that Museveni is doing this for the safety of Ugandans. As we speak now, most urban places are filled with people going about their usual business uninterrupted. No social distancing, no nothing. If anyone has any doubts, please visit Kikuubo, or any other urban place. Therefore Museveni and the Electoral Commission should not take Ugandans for fools.
As you all recall, there was no coronavirus when our consultations were blocked. There was no coronavirus when Museveni personally ordered the blocking of our music shows. What Museveni fears is the people. He was hiding behind the Public Order Management Act and now he’s hiding under COVID19 to block us from reaching the people. Therefore, there is nothing like a scientific election.
For us, we are going for a real election because a scientific election is not an election. The promise of our Constitution is a free and fair election. A free and fair election means that every person who has a right to vote can go and express his or her will voluntary, without being influenced by money and intimidation. It means that all candidates are given equal opportunities to convey their message to the voters so that voters can make an informed choice.
I have said it before and I will say it again, that on behalf of the millions of oppressed and exploited people, I will be challenging Museveni in an election that is envisaged by the law. But let me use this opportunity to put President Museveni on notice.
You might have forgotten what you said in 1980 but we have not forgotten. On the eve of the 1980 election, you, Museveni, put Obote on notice. You said that if he rigged that election, you would go to the bush and fight against him. We have come to that point yet again.
We are telling you that you either organize a free and fair election or step down peacefully, but if you continue provoking the patience of the people of Uganda, they will rise up against you and you will end up in the dustbin of history like your friend Ghadafi, like your friend Mobutu and like your friend Omar El Bashir.
Kyagulanyi Ssentamu Robert
Leader of the People Power Movement