Africa-Press – Uganda. Some senior citizens and opposition politicians believe the address by the justice and constitutional affairs minister Nobert Mao to parliament indicating that his ministry is financially constrained to hold electoral reforms ahead of 2026 speaks of a government not committed to the idea of electoral reforms.
They are concerned that the government pushes for reforms only if they serve their interests, a view contested by some NRM members.
In the 2016 Amama Mbabazi presidential elections petition, the Supreme Court recommended sanctions against any state organ or officer who violates the constitutional duty to give all candidates equal media play.
The court also recommended regulating the use of technology in conducting and managing elections.
These were never enforced and in the 2021 Kyagulanyi election petition, the Supreme Court refreshed these recommendations again barring security agencies from interfering with the electoral process.
Even when the minister for justice and constitutional affairs Nobert Mao had earlier raised the expectations of Ugandans saying electoral reforms were in the pipeline, the country was surprised when he finally took opposition.
But why could the government be failing the concept of electoral reforms ahead of the 2026 general elections?
Kira Municipality Member of Parliament Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda says that after succeeding in removing term limits, there was no appetite for another reform.
Muwanga Kivumbi, the Butambala Legislator also contends that the government can not dare fund a process that risks President Museveni’s life presidency bid.
The 2003 Prof Ssempebwa Constitutional Review Commission successfully did its work leading to the scrapping of term limits in 2005 by Parliament. There is a call for a similar review, something that the opposition believes the government is not interested in.
“At the moment there is nothing stopping him from being a life ruler that is why he is not interested.”
On the excuse of the Ministry of Justice being incapacitated to fund the electoral reform process, the legislators claim the funds are available.
But political researcher Henry Kassacca believes the opposition needs to build a consensus with the government on the need for electoral reforms.
“The opposition has not built a consensus that why this is not coming soon.”
Source: Nile Post
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