By Angel Lubowa
Kampala
The ghosts of the dirty 1980 elections which saw some UPC candidates run unopposed due to exclusion and intimidation could have resurfaced in Bukedea where the Speaker of Parliament Hon Annet Anita Among was declared unopposed as the other would be candidates were reportedly excluded or went missing.
The development has resulted into wide spread condemnation from a section of the general public, the opposition and multiple voters in the district who were disenfranchised of their voting rights.
During the nominations of the 1980 election process, some opposition candidates were intimidated and suppressed in some areas resulting into about 14 of the then 125 constituencies go without competition.
The 14 constituencies were for UPC candidates who ran unopposed due to exclusion of the would be challengers who belinged to DP and UPM.
As Uganda go to polls, sofar about six candidates will be unopposed the current Speaker Among being among them.
The others are Tayebwa Thomas (
Ruhinda North) Lillian obiale (Arua district woman),Emmanuel Banya( Koboko county), Jeniva Arinaitwe( Rubirizi district woman),and Ruth Mushabe Rujoki(Kiruhura district woman)
Although other circumstances in areas where MPs were declared unopposed are yet to be studied, in Bukedea District it didn’t come clear according to voters and opposition politicians.
The leading opposition party NUP has condemned the development accusing the victor Among of orchestrating intimidation and abduction of her would be opponents.
The NUP president Hon Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine who is also running for presidency told media that their parliamentary candidate Asio Florence went missing hours to her nomination.
He said that Asio and several of her team members vanished on Wednesday morning while from Soroti to Bukedea for nomination when their phones suddenly went off and became unreachable even to their relatives.
“Her phone number as well as the phone numbers of the comrades she was travelling with from Soroti to Bukedea are all off. We’re in touch with their relatives who are desperately looking for them.”
He said that even their contact ,Mercy Marion Alupo, another NUP official who had been waiting at the Electoral Commission (EC) offices for Asio’s arrival, were also not reachable.
According to NUP, the development came to find that two days ago unidentified armed men had threatened
and intimidated Asio’s family members comanding them to prevail over her not to contest for her and their own safety.
Kyagulanyi accused Speaker Among of “using state institutions to eliminate political rivals,” saying her declaration as an unopposed candidate “symbolizes the death of democracy.”
The leader of opposition, Hon Joel Ssenyonyi also accused Among of exhibiting dirty politics in Bukedea.
He said the Speaker was a shame to her party, country and democracy asking her why she was frequenting Rome to visit the Holy See despite her dirty political games.
Bukedea residents and voters castigated the development, saying it undermined the credibility of the election process.
“Our candidate disappears, and immediately the EC declares Among unopposed. That’s not an election — it’s a setup,” said Peter Ocen, a boda boda rider in Bukedea Town.
The missing Mrs Asio was only a late time entrant of NUP into the Bukedea race after the first three would be candidates were blocked.
Earlier this month , Mrs Alupo (NUP), Norma Susan Otai (FDC), and Akol Hellen Odeke (Independent) were deleted from the voters’ register by parish tribunals under disputed circumstances leaving
Among without any challenger but NUP moved smart and unveiled Asio as its new flag bearer.
Amidist Asio’s questionable disappearance, the EC went on to declare Among unopposed.
Police and security were yet to comment on thr developments.
