Opinion: 'Scientific Campaigns and Elections' is not the Right way to go for Uganda

 "Let's focus on saving lives, not elections"

By Tumusiime Johnious, Director, Best Solutions Uganda

Regarding the prevailing arguments about the Scientific Campaigns and Elections Roadmap that was given by the Electoral Commission boss, Justice Simon Byabakama, early this week; I wish to add my voice and analysis of the matter.

Firstly, I wish to state that this system cannot at all produce leaders that are patriotic and concerned about their people - instead they will be much concerned about the media.

I was so surprised to hear a Ugandan speak of the scientific election campaigns in the Uganda of today. It sounded like somebody who has never been in Uganda was speaking.

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However, it would have sounded more inappropriate and totally unwise if the EC boss had announced that the campaigns and elections are to be dealt with normally during such a period when the country is still at war with the Covid-19 Pandemic. In my ears, again, it sounds stubborn if anyone says we should go on with campaigns and elections normally in such an environment because it is the period suggested by the Constitution.

I remember my Deputy Principal at Kabulasoke PTC, Ms. Nangira Catherine S. saying, "Always use common sense and apply it in all corners of life...". What is more important? Life, campaigns, elections or the law? What came for the other? Campaigns came to enhance elections yet elections came to enhance leadership, and leadership came to enhance the law which was put to enhance life. The law came because there was life but life did not come for the law. In other words, life is the master of all. We cannot use the law to destroy life and thus we cannot conduct public rally campaigns in such dangerous days to fulfill the law.

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We must accept as a country that we are in war with the pandemic and let us concentrate to that until we get victory. We are not other countries and we must not risk lives because other countries did.

Campaigning through television and radios is not a system to help us elect leaders of our choice - how can I choose somebody I don't know to lead me? This system cannot help us to understand our candidates, more especially those appearing on the ballot paper for the first time; yet among them might be the right candidates to go with this time. Besides, how many Ugandans have television sets in their homes? And even for those having television sets, how many people can sit to watch campaigns on television when there are other programs that have always caught their attention?

In all corners of common sense, I don't see it right to take  our attention away from the ongoing struggle and start thinking about campaigns and elections in such a period.

The Parliament should by their constitutional powers and authority help our National Constitution to recognize such periods of scourge on every matter including elections.

That is my submission.

Tumusiime Johnious

tumusiimejohnious@gmail.com