By Jumah Kakomo
The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) has urged election monitors and observers to carry out their duties with professionalism to ensure effective service delivery and uphold the integrity of the ongoing electoral process.
The call was made by Kamadi Byonabye, the UHRC Director of Research, Education, and Documentation, during a meeting of election observers held in Kampala on Wednesday spearheaded by Ushahidi Foundation. He emphasized the importance of impartiality, neutrality, and strict adherence to the code of conduct governing election observation.
Kamadi highlighted the vital role election observers play in promoting free, fair, and transparent elections, noting that their reports help identify areas for improvement and foster accountability in the electoral process.
The UHRC urged election observers to:
Remain impartial and neutral: Avoid taking sides or engaging in partisan activities that could compromise their independence.
Adhere to the code of conduct: Familiarize themselves with and follow the code of conduct for election observers to ensure their actions uphold the integrity of the electoral process.
Report accurately and objectively: Provide factual, balanced, and objective reports on the electoral process, identifying both strengths and weaknesses.
The Commission also stressed the importance of collaboration among election observers, the Electoral Commission, and other stakeholders to ensure a peaceful and credible election.
“By working together, Ugandans can promote a free, fair, and transparent electoral process that reflects the will of the people,” Kamadi said.
The UHRC further appealed to security forces to uphold the law as they execute their duties during the election period. Kamadi emphasized maintaining peace and order while respecting citizens’ rights to freely participate in the electoral process. He noted that while security forces play a crucial role in maintaining law and order, this must be done in full respect of human rights and freedoms.
The Commission urged security personnel to:
Act professionally and impartially: Avoid partisanship or actions that could compromise neutrality.
Respect citizens’ rights: Protect the rights of citizens to assemble, associate, and participate freely in the electoral process.
Use minimum necessary force: Apply only the minimum force required to maintain order and avoid excessive actions that could harm citizens.
Meanwhile, Faridah Lule, the Executive Director of USHAHIDI Foundation, announced that the organization has trained both election observers and human rights monitors who will document any human rights violations during the elections. She explained that these trained individuals will be stationed across the country to gather evidence of potential abuses; ensuring citizens’ rights are safeguarded throughout the electoral process.
According to Faridah, observers will monitor polling stations and document incidents such as; Violence and intimidation: Physical or verbal attacks on voters, candidates, or election officials, Voter suppression: Attempts to prevent eligible citizens from casting their ballots, Electoral irregularities: Deviations from standard procedures that could affect election outcomes.
She adds that the USHAHIDI foundation has already applied for accreditation from the Electoral Commission to observe the elections, and once accredited, USHAHIDI’s trained observers will be deployed across the country to monitor the electoral process, ensuring transparency and accountability.
Faridah noted that their observers have identified several areas of concern, particularly in Mbarara, Mityana, and Masaka, where individuals were reportedly seen removing posters of certain candidates from public spaces, an act that could contravene electoral regulations. She reaffirmed USHAHIDI’s commitment to promoting a free, fair, and transparent electoral process, stressing that vigilant observation and strict adherence to electoral guidelines are essential for accountability.
Faridah also condemned acts that undermine the electoral process, urging all stakeholders including candidates, their agents, and supporters to respect electoral laws and guidelines. She highlighted that violations of the electoral process can take several forms, including:
Voter intimidation: Using threats or coercion to influence voter choices.
Campaign malpractices: Engaging in bribery, vote buying, or other illegal campaign activities.
Misuse of state resources: Exploiting public resources or influence for unfair political advantage.
