Otunnu Welcomes US Congressional Directive on 2011 Ugandan Elections

Otunnu Welcomes US Congressional Directive on 2011 Ugandan Elections

Jan.13, 2010 Kampala, Washington,

Mr. Olara A. Otunnu, former United Nations Under Secretary General and an opposition leader in Uganda, today welcomed the directive by the United States Congress to the US Secretary of State to closely monitor preparations for the 2011 Elections in Uganda. Mr. Otunnu said,
“I am delighted and applaud the US Congress for taking this decisive action in favour of free and fair elections in Uganda. This is a most welcome development.”
Speaking in Washington, Mr. Otunnu said that the U.S. Congress has directed the US Secretary of State to work with other countries, including the European Union and Canada, to ensure free and fair elections in Uganda in 2011.
Mr. Otunnu stated, “The Congressional directive is of particular importance given the extensive and well documented rigging and fraud witnessed in recent elections in Uganda.”
The Congressional directive calls for close monitoring of the preparations for the Ugandan elections, and in particular the following: “the independence of the electoral commission; the need for an accurate and verifiable voter registry; the announcement and posting of results at the polling stations; the freedom of movement and assembly and a process free of intimidation; freedom of the media; and the security and protection of candidates.”
“This is a milestone,” observed Mr. Otunnu, “because for the first time the Museveni regime is being held to the same electoral standards as other governments. Up till now, the regime has enjoyed scandalous exceptionalism, particularly from universally-accepted standards concerning democracy, human rights and corruption.”
The directive is included in the section dealing with Uganda in the U.S. Foreign Operations Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2010. Congress has directed the Secretary of State to provide the first report in March, and then regularly “every 120 days thereafter until 30 days after the election detailing actions taken by the government of Uganda to address these concerns”.
Under the Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2010, Uganda is allocated $70.6 million in assistance.



Mr. Otunnu has been very critical of the fact that Western governments have been providing extensive support and subsidies to Museveni’s government without holding it accountable.
In conclusion, Mr Otunnu said, “This concrete action by Congress reinforces President Obama’s seminal speech in Accra in July 2009, promising to support the “brave Africans” who are on the right side of history; fighting for genuine democracy, human rights, the building of strong institutions, and for change of “leaders (who) exploit the economy to enrich themselves.”


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Contact:
MR. WAGONDA MUGULI
Phone: +256 (0) 772502626
E-Mail: jwmuguli@yahoo.com
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US Congressional Directive on 2011 Ugandan Elections
Uganda.-The conference agreement provides $70,650,000 for assistance for Uganda. The
conferees direct the Secretary of State to closely monitor preparations for the 2011 elections in Uganda, and to actively promote, in coordination with the European Union, Canada and other nations, the independence of the election commission; the need for an accurate and verifiable voter registry; the announcement and posting of results at the polling stations; the freedom of movement and assembly and a process free of intimidation; freedom of the media; and the security and protection of candidates. The conferees direct the Secretary of State to submit a report to the Committees on Appropriations not later than 90 days after enactment of this Act and
every 120 days thereafter until 30 days after the elections, detailing actions taken by the Government of Uganda to address these concerns.
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