FDC Rejects New EC Bosses, Ready to Demonstrate
FDC Rejects New EC Bosses, Ready to Demonstrate
By Serestino Tusingwire
Forum for Democratic Change leaders have vowed to mobilize Ugandans to protest against the newly appointed Electoral commission officials headed by Justice Simon Byabakama.
Eng. Badru Kiggundu successors could begin their seven-year tenure on a rough note as FDC begins the campaign against them on Tuesday in Mbarara, where they are expected to spend two days and close with a public rally.
Even before the six new Electoral commissioners led by Byabakama, are vetted by the Parliamentary Appointments Committee, the opposition party says it will not recognize the team.
It should be remembered that, as the term of the Kiggundu team was coming to the end just before the February elections, the opposition and civil society activists went around the country meeting people and calling for electoral reforms.
They came up with a document dubbed with proposals on the appointment of an independent Electoral Commission to conduct free and fair elections.
However, in replacing Kiggundu’s team, the president followed the current law that allows him to nominate members of the commission with the approval of Parliament.
FDC spokesman Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda says the president did not act in accordance with the will of the people as documented in the citizens’ compact.
FDC is now preparing to move across the country rallying the people to demand for an independent Electoral Commission.
Meanwhile, Col. Shaban Bantariza, the deputy government spokesman has warned them against the move, and also warned them against rejecting the nominees to the Electoral Commission.