|
|
 |
|
CNS Story:
|
UGANDA-MONITORS Feb-21-2006 (780 words) With photos. xxxi
In Uganda, church works to ensure clean presidential election
By Evan Weinberger
Catholic News Service
KAMPALA, Uganda (CNS) -- As Ugandan elections approached, the Catholic Church and Christian groups took a leading role in trying to ensure that the presidential candidate chosen by the people is the candidate who actually wins.
Church officials said independent monitoring will be key to ensuring that the Feb. 23 presidential and parliamentary elections are viewed as legitimate.
Patrick Okumu, a Catholic volunteer for the Ugandan Joint Christian Council and a graduate student in human rights at Kampala's Makerere University, was at the Christian council's offices Feb. 20 as workers prepared to send white bibs with the words "Election Monitor" to nearly 20,000 people, one for every polling station in the country. Dozens of plaid plastic bags lay on the floor as other volunteers cut up information sheets for monitors.
The Ugandan Joint Christian Council -- which includes Catholic, Anglican and Orthodox churches -- hoped to ensure that ballot boxes were not stuffed with extra votes and "ghost voters" did not take their turn at the polls.
Okumu said the church had worked to sensitize parishioners to make wise decisions, but it could only do so much.
"The country is in the hands of the leaders," he said.
The Rev. Grace Kaiso, an Anglican minister and executive secretary of the Ugandan Joint Christian Coalition, said because about one-third of Uganda's 26 million citizens are Catholic, the largest of any Christian denomination, the Catholic Church has played a big part in the election monitoring effort.
But Rev. Kaiso, too, said there was only so much his monitors would be able to accomplish.
"We're just keeping our fingers crossed that it (electoral fraud) won't happen," he said.
One way the Catholic Church worked to educate voters was through the media. The church owns several radio stations, which tried to host presidential candidates when they visited different regions.
The Catholic stations also broadcast news on political issues, produced political talk shows and ran advertisements from all parties. Editorials highlighted the need for Ugandans to remain calm and peaceful throughout the election process, which will last until March 9 as citizens choose local officials after picking national leaders.
Before a Mass Feb. 19 at Kampala's Sacred Heart Cathedral, Francis Lubeede handed out the week's prayer sheet, written the Luganda language. As he helped usher in the hundreds of people who regularly attend Mass at the orange-brick cathedral, he expressed concern about the upcoming elections.
"According to the papers ... there could be some problems," he said. "The president doesn't want to leave the power. That is what the people fear."
The presidential election pits President Yoweri Museveni against four challengers. Museveni came to power in 1986 after leading his National Resistance Movement in a bush war against the dictatorships of Idi Amin and Milton Obote. Once in power, Museveni banned political parties and instituted what he called the movement system, where individuals were elected instead of parties. In 2005, Museveni won a constitutional referendum to allow him to run for a third term as president.
A 20-year war in northern Ugandan pitting government forces against the Lord's Resistance Army has left hundreds of thousands dead and many more displaced. Uganda also became embroiled in the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo and recently was ordered to pay billions of dollars in reparations for looting the country.
Several international donors have cut back on their support for Museveni's government over the last few months.
As the campaign came to a close, it became increasingly personal and violent. At least two opposition supporters were killed by a reserve soldier in mid-February, and three others were injured Feb. 19 when an army convoy ran through an opposition rally. Police hit opposition supporters with tear gas during a Feb. 20 rally.
Rev. Kaiso was among those expecting the violence to increase as the voting proceeded and results become clear. Few expected Museveni to lose, whether legally or through fraud.
"Neither group ... is prepared to lose," Rev. Kaiso said. "That is worrying."
At the Feb. 19 cathedral Mass, a young altar girl reading a meditation before Mass prayed, "Please, God, grant us peace after elections."
A layman read directly from the Ugandan Electoral Commission voter pamphlet, a practice at every house of worship throughout the country. The pamphlet described in detail the 10-step voting procedure, which will end with voters dipping their fingers in indelible purple ink, like elections in most developing countries. The reader pleaded with voters not to take bribes and reminded them not to be intimidated by authorities or rival parties.
"Participate in all electoral activities, and vote for the political party and candidate of your choice," the reader said. "Your choice is secret."
END
Copyright (c) 2006 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed.
CNS · 3211 Fourth St NE · Washington DC 20017 · 202.541.3250
|
|
|
|
