8 cleared for 2011 presidential elections

Kampala

The final day for nomination of presidential candidates saw the Electoral Commission accept another three individuals, bringing the number of contenders in the February 18, 2011 polls to eight.
The race, which officially kicks off tomorrow, will be between President Museveni, Dr Kizza Besigye, Mr Norbert Mao, Mr Jaberi Bidandi Ssali, Ms Beti Olive Kamya, Dr Abed Bwanika, Mr Olara Otunnu and Mr Samuel Lubega.

Dr Bwanika, of the Peoples’ Development Party, is in it for the second time. His first shot at the top office in 2006 when he stood as an independent, ended up garnering 65,900 ballots (0.95% ) of the total vote. “We must create wealth for Ugandans by creation of employment. We shall also work hard and improve the social services for a better welfare for all of us. Ugandans must own their country,” Dr Bwanika said this time, almost echoing his 2006 message. Uganda Peoples Congress, finally had their candidate, Mr Olara Otunnu, nominated at 1:05 p.m.

Even after accepting EC chair Badru Kiggundu’s handshake, Mr Otunnu still went on the attack. “We are continuing with our crusade for a free and fair election and there is no way it can happen with this corrupt EC. We want a new independent EC. We want a clean voters’ register,” he said. Dr Kiggundu’s rejoinder was to “wish him good luck.”
The last day of nomination was bathed in controversy as Mr Samuel Lubega, an Independent, who first unsuccessfully sought to run as flag bearer of a faction of the Democratic Party, showed up for nomination.

DP wrangles
Mr Lubega has refused to recognise the election of the current leadership. “I have no business with [DP leader Norbert] Mao as long as he does not denounce those illegal tendencies of the Mbale delegates’ conference. We cannot denounce Museveni for unconstitutionalism and we do the same. Charity begins at home. If the DP, whose unity I have always longed for, begins to behave the same way Museveni behaves, then I am out,” he said.
He was nominated three minutes to closing time after more than seven hours of bargaining with the EC. There were a series of meetings between his team and the Commission over the DP materials like headed papers which he had used to solicit for signatures.


The EC later said they would take the chance to nominate him. “I will be ready for court in case any of the people who signed, petition your candidature,” Dr Kiggundu said. Before the final stamps were appended to his nomination certificates, Dr Kiggundu gave Mr Lubega one day to present a new campaign symbol. “The symbol you have presented this afternoon is rejected until it is re-engineered. Your symbol has features which are conflicting [with another party]. You need to harmonise it immediately with my technical people. It could be a reason for your disqualification if not harmonised,” he said. His symbol was of a shield, a drum and a hoe in DP colours.

The electoral law says a candidate who uses symbols that could hoodwink the public and affect another candidates’ votes should be disqualified if they do not change the offending object.

Close monitoring
Uncharacteristically, Dr Kiggundu also told Mr Lubega that; “we shall monitor your campaigns throughout the 112 districts.” DP legal advisor Mukasa Mbidde said last night that they “could consider suing [Lubega], but we have less time for that now.” Mr Mbidde said if Mr Lubega obtained signatures with the help of DP materials, then it was fraudulent.

Meanwhile, Paddy Bitama, a comedian, had his shot at the presidency brought to an end at Namboole Stadium’s gates where EC security refused him entry. He flashed Shs50,000 notes to the gate keepers trying to show them that he had the mandatory Shs8 million.

The election rules were that one deposits the money in a designated bank and only present slips as proof of payment. The comedian said he had just realised that 7,500 signatures were required. But like another artiste before him, Charles ‘Siasa’ Ssenkubuge who in 2006 dropped out shortly after nomination, Mr Bitama’s flirtation with politics turned out to be very brief.