Opposition Protests President Museveni's Reappointment of Electoral Commission Members

Strategic Insights -

Sixteen years ago, in August 2009, Opposition legislators staged a walkout from a meeting of Parliament's Committee on Appointments to vet members of the Electoral Commission (EC). The EC team, led by chairperson Mr Badru Kiggundu, was being reappointed to serve a second seven-year term despite a Supreme Court ruling in 2006 that the EC had conducted the poll in compliance with the Constitution. The Opposition accused President Museveni of disregarding their calls for electoral reforms and widening political representation in the EC to include representatives from the Opposition.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Opposition staged a walkout from a meeting of Parliament's Committee on Appointments to vet members of the Electoral Commission (EC) on August 12, 2009.
  • The EC team, led by chairperson Mr Badru Kiggundu, was being reappointed to serve a second seven-year term despite a Supreme Court ruling in 2006 that the EC had conducted the poll in compliance with the Constitution.
  • President Museveni had notified Speaker of Parliament Edward Ssekandi of his decision to reappoint the EC members in an August 5, 2009, letter.
  • The Appointments Committee was composed of 23 members, out of which only four were from the Opposition.
  • The Opposition accused President Museveni of disregarding their calls for electoral reforms and widening political representation in the EC to include representatives from the Opposition.
  • The Speaker of Parliament, Edward Ssekandi, defended his decision to expedite the vetting exercise, citing the need to comply with the law and avoid a constitutional crisis.
  • The Opposition's protests were led by Prof Morris Ogenga Latigo, then vice president of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), and Mr Livingstone Okello-Okello, a member of the Uganda Peoples' Congress (UPC) party.

Statistics:

  • 6 members of the Electoral Commission (EC) were being reappointed to serve a second seven-year term: Mr Badru Kiggundu, Joseph Biribonwa, Dr Jenny B. Okello, Mr Steven Ongaria, Mr Tom W Buruku, and Ms Justine Mugabi Muhabwe.
  • The Appointments Committee was composed of 23 members, out of which only 4 were from the Opposition.
  • The seven-year term of the outgoing EC team was due to expire on November 18, 2009.
  • The 2006 General Election was marred by irregularities, and the Supreme Court ruling noted that the EC did not conduct the poll in compliance with the Constitution.

Sources:

  • Daily Monitor, August 12, 2009
  • Daily Monitor, August 11, 2009
  • Letter from President Museveni to Speaker of Parliament Edward Ssekandi, August 5, 2009
  • Supreme Court ruling, April 6, 2006