Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Kampala (Agenzia Fides)- The polling stations opened today for presidential and parliamentary elections (see Fides 22 February 2006). “After the tension of the past few days, today all is calm” said local Church sources in the capital Kampala. Five candidates are running for presidency but the contest is really only between outgoing president Yoweri Museveni and Kizza Besigye his former personal doctor and the leader of the Forum for Democratic Change.
“The people hope the elections will be a step towards real democracy. In fact the country is still in the stage of transition from a one party to a multiparty system. However the mentality of democracy has yet to be acquired ” said the local forces. “For example there are foreign and local observers to monitor a fair and free vote; but the problem is more about what happened in the electoral campaign. President Museveni made use of the state machine to promote his image while the Opposition had limited space”.
“We hope for the best, but some observers say that to win votes during the election campaign the candidates exploited the country’s problems but failed to offer concrete solutions” the sources added.
“Uganda faces urgent problems for its development. There is still fighting in the north where more than one million people live in refugee camps because of guerrilla warfare. The country is still poor and the population has grown to 28 million. Resources are limited. Cuts in electrical power are very frequent in many parts of the country” the sources said.
Less water in Lake Victoria meansthat the power station on the Nile Dam produces less electrical power. “This was caused by natural but foreseeable events” the sources said. “Although the country received international funds in recent years little was done to increase the production of power. The country’s plans for industrialisation foresee an increase in imported oil at a time when oil prices are rocketing, not to mention transport costs in a country which has no outlet to the sea. No one has said how the additional costs will be paid since everyone knows that international aid to Uganda has been cut back”.
“Reduction of international aid is due partly to another problem in Uganda, corruption” the sources observed. “Some of the foreign funds were used to buy popular consensus. However compared to other African situations the funds have had a positive impact for example primary schooling is now free and the number of pupils has grown from 2 million to 7 million. Now the government has promised to make secondary education free but it would seem it does not have the necessary funds”.
“To conclude, the victory of outgoing President would appear certain. It remains to be seen if he wins now with a majority (50 per cent plus 1 vote) or in a second round. Whatever the case despite the difficulties mentioned we must continue to support to process to render Uganda democratic” the sources conclude. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 23/2/2006 righe 48 parole 636)
