The truth is, there was no election last month

The truth is, there was no election last month
By Anne Mugisha

So the elections are over – for now! I am probably the only candidate or one of a few that participated in two constituencies! In Nakawa I had to deal with election malpractices within the FDC and opted to withdraw my candidacy so as to keep peace within my party. That fracas prepared me adequately for the bigger fracas at national level.
Now reflecting on the ethical decay, corruption and even criminal conduct of our partisan national Electoral Commission, I could never forget that this behaviour is not restricted to the national body, but the cancer has eaten into the moral fabric of ruling and opposition parties as well as the body politic of Ugandan society.

A newspaper picture of Dr Kizza Besigye presenting pre-ticked ballots to the press was a slight variation of my own presentation of completed return forms of the Nakawa FDC primaries to an NTV crew before that election was held. The NRM primaries had even more dramatic incidents like the printing of ballot papers by candidates on Nkrumah Road! To say that we all need to clean up our act is an understatement.

An honest assessment of the problem must tackle internal party election mechanisms, the national electoral commission and also introduce serious voter education to the electorate. Needless to say, expectations are higher for performance of EC because it sets the pace, has the resources and has developed knowledge and experience over the years which parties still lack.
The EC should be a shining example and a standard-setter but it rivals only the ruling party in managing botched elections that are tainted by gross irregularities like vote buying, ballot stuffing, pre-ticked ballots, lateness, poorly trained officials and outright corrupt officials. Remember also that the incompetence of the EC has been independently verified by courts of law.
In any case, my personal experience this last election period have helped me to become less judgemental or partisan about vote rigging. Any person engaged in rigging elections is an enemy of all Ugandans regardless of political affiliation.
All that Ugandans want is for the ballot box to reveal the truth at the end of the polling exercise; otherwise all those who emerge as winners are technically usurpers of the will of the Ugandan people. I am astounded by the number of journalists and analysts who keep regurgitating the numbers! It cannot be right to say that a certain candidate won with a certain percentage after overwhelming us with a befuddling level of incompetence, ballot stuffing, vote buying, pre-ticked ballots and other electoral crimes.
The truth, if we dare face it, is that there was no election last month. What happened was a pre-calculated, pre-meditated criminal event with the sole purpose of renewing a mandate and bestowing some semblance of legitimacy on the incumbent government. The incompetence in covering their tracks torpedoed both the new mandate and its legitimacy. As the opposition, let us face the painful truth. We can no longer plead naivety – that was an argument for 2001 and 2006.
Today, we must admit that we were vain to believe that we could win in an election over which we had no control or guarantees - moreover with the same EC that we proved had failed the free and fair test twice. We lost the election when we failed to dismantle the EC; we lost when our own compromised party electoral commissions handpicked candidates instead of conducting free and fair elections; we lost when we were lured into participating in a fraudulent exercise that our vanity fooled us into believing we could win.
The lesson of the election was the affirmation that political change will not come to Uganda via the ballot box until we dismantle not only the EC, but also the culture of impunity within our parties and a societal tradition that allows corrupt individuals to thrive while honest people wither.

Ms Mugisha is a democracy activist

abusingye@hotmail.com

Press Release: December, 14th 2010

From the Office of the FDC Woman MP Candidate

Mbarara District

PRESS RELEASE

December 14th 2010
At, Kakoba, Mbarara:

Anne Mugisha would like to thank the people responsible for pinning up her posters at the Mahembe roundabout, Masaka Road and on Mackan Singh street last night. She wishes to inform the volunteers that they used the wrong posters which she had printed while still in the race for Nakawa Constituency, in Kampala. She has since been nominated for Woman MP, Mbarara District as FDC flag bearer. Ms Mugisha is aware of the love and support she enjoys in both constituencies and nationwide. She is grateful that some anonymous volunteers took the time and effort of download the poster, print it, purchase glue and engage labor to post it widely at their own expense.

She advises however that volunteers respect the population in her district (even if some cannot read) by using the correct poster designed for Mbarara District at all times. She added that her campaign is growing daily from strength to strength and will need many volunteers but they should use the correct materials.
Anne Mugisha

FDC Woman MP Candidate
Mbarara District

Donate for Change in Mbarara District

ANNE MUGISHA FOR WOMAN MP, MBARARA DISTRICT
FORUM FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE
0791-77 00 55, 0788244517, 0704891638
anne@fdcuganda.org
P.O. Box 400
Mbarara, UGANDA

November 30, 2010

Hi,

I wanted you to know that on November 26th 2010 I was officially nominated by a Returning Officer of the Ugandan Electoral Commission thereby becoming FDC’s candidate for the position of Woman MP, Mbarara District. Thanks to the generosity of supporters like you, I raised enough funds for a successful nomination event. This campaign is not about what has gone wrong with our politics, economy and social services. There is enough evidence all around us of what is wrong. It is about giving the electorate a vision of where we ought to be and making sure that together we achieve that vision in our lifetime.

Ugandans who have been denied access to economic opportunity and basic social services are the audience and owners of this campaign. I know that we can work together towards realizing our goal of an equitable and just society and I need your support in order to take this message to the voters.

The successful launch of my campaign last week, has set new expectations for the quality of my campaign. We will use mobile technology, photography and the Internet in new ways to mobilize people for change. We shall also continue to use traditional campaigning tools like flyers, posters, t-shirts, caps, radio messages and above all door-to-door canvassing for votes .

I need your help to make a real difference. My campaign urgently needs funds to perform these activities. You can contribute in cash or in kind. I have opened an MTN Money Account number 0788244517 where you can send money for the campaign. Or contact me directly on phone numbers: 0791 77 00 55 or 0704891638 or email anne@fdcuganda.org If you are abroad you can transmit funds via Moneygram or Western Union to Mbarara. Otherwise you may transfer funds to my bank account, which I will provide upon request or make a payment with your debit or credit card via my Paypal account here:


http://www.annemugisha.com/fundraising.html

I also welcome volunteers that may want to work with my campaign.

Together we can make a positive change.

Anne Mugisha for Woman MP
Mbarara District
www.annemugisha.com
Amazima, Obumwe, Entunguuka

Rwampara County, Mbarara District Polling Stations

Rwampara County, Mbarara District

5 Sub Counties
31 Parishes
130 Polling Stations

Bugamba Sub County
Kabrama Parish

1. Kabarama Parish Hqts
2. Nyanamira Market
3. Nyarubare
4. Rubingo Pri Shc

Kamomo Parish

1. Kamomo I
2. Kamomo II

Kibingo Parish

1. Kangirerwe C.O.U
2. Kangirerwe Pri Sch
3. Nyaruteme Trading Centre
4. Rwamuganga Trading Centre

Kitojo Parish

1. Kitojo Pri sch
2. Nyanga Pri Sch
3. Ryamijo

Ngugo Parish

1. Bituntu
2. Kakongora Pri Sch
3. Kakungu
4. Kikuto C.O.U
5. Ngugo II

Nyaruhandazi Parish

1. Nshuro-Mutsibika
2. Nyaruhandagazi I
3. Nyaruhandagazi II
4. Nyaruhandagazi III

Rweibogo Parish 

1. Bugamba Pri Sch
2. Rweibogo III
3. Rweibogo IV
4. Rweibogo Parish Hqts
5. Rwemisha Trading Centre

Mwizi Sub County
Bushwere Parish

1. Buhungye
2. Bushwere I
3. Bushwere II
4. Bushwere III
5. Kenkaranga Pri Sch
6. Kikunda

Kigaaga Parish

1. Ihobya
2. Kabaya
3. Kamukungu
4. Kigaaga Pri Sch
5. Rubagano

Ngoma Parish 

1. Karamurani
2. Ngoma I
3. Ngoma II
4. Ngoma III
5. Ngoma IV
6. Ngoma V

Rukarabo Parish

1. Rukarabo I
2. Rukarabo II
3. Rukarabo III
4. Rukarabo IV

Rwamiyonga Parish

1. Ibumba
2. Kanoni
3. Kihangire
4. Kyatoko
5. Kyeyare
6. Rwamiyonga I
7. Rwamiyonga II

 

Ndeija Sub County 
Bujaga Parish 

1. Bujaga
2. Bujaga Parish Hqts
3. Kashuru Pri Sch
4. Kikonkoma Pri Sch

Kakikagi Parish

1. Kakigani Parish Hqts
2. Kakigani Pri Sch
3. Nyabishekye C.O.U

Kibare Parish

1. Kanyantura Pri Sch
2. Kibare Pri Sch
3. Kibumba Pri Sch
4. Murago Pri Sch

Kongoro Parish

1. Nyakatugunda Pri Sch
2. Rugazi Pri Sch

Ndeija-Mulago Parish

1. Kashuro Pri Sch
2. Kyesika
3. Ndeija Pri Sch
4. Ndeija Subcounty Hqts

Nyakaikara Parish

1. Kibuba Pri Sch
2. Nyakaikara Pri Sch
3. Rwemirokora Playground
4. Nyeihanga Parish
5. Nyeihanga Pri Sch
6. Nyeihanga Pri Sch Playground
7. Rwensinga Parish
8. Kabutare Pri Sch
9. Kaiho Pri Sch

Nyakayojo Sub County
Bugashe Parish

1. Akayenze Junction Kibona
2. Bugashe Pri Sch
3. Kibaya Mixed Pri Sch

Katojo Parish

1. Kakuukuru Pri Sch
2. Kibingo C.O.U
3. Ngaara Catholic Church
4. Ngaara Pri Sch
5. Nyakayojo Health Centre III
6. Rwariire Pri Sch

Kichwamba Parish

1. Kabasikozi Playground
2. Kambaba Pri Sch
3. Kantanda
4. Kichwamba Junior Sch
5. Mutukura I Cell Hqts
6. Mutukura II-Karengye

Nyarubungo II Parish

1. Ibaare C.O.U
2. Kagaaga Pri Sch
3. Karambi Catholic Church
4. Katukuru Pri Sch
5. Kijengye Pri Sch
6. Kinyaza Pri Sch
7. Rwakwezi C.O.U

Rukindo Parish

1. Kagando C.O.U
2. Nyakakoni Catholic Church
3. Nyakayojo Senior Secondary
4. Nyamiyaga
5. Rukindo Pri Sch

Rwakishakiizi

1. Kagasha C.O.U
2. Kibingo P.T.C
3. Nshungyezi Pri Sch
4. Nyakayojo Subcounty Hqts
5. Rucece C.O.U
6. Rwakishakiizi Pri Sch

Rugando Sub County
Kitunguru Parish

1. Kahunga Pri Sch
2. Katereza Pri Sch
3. Kitunguru Parish Hqts
4. Kitunguru pri Sch

Mirama Parish

1. Mirama
2. Rucence Pri Sch
3. Rwemiyenje

Nyabikungu Parish

1. Ahakabare Mikamba
2. Butahe C.O.U
3. Mikamba
4. Nyabikungu Parish Hqts

Nyakabare Parish

1. Kyakanekye Pri Sch
2. Nyakabare Parish Hqts
3. Nyakabare Pri Sch

Nyarubungo Parish

1. Kagongi Pri Sch
2. Karora Pri Sch
3. Kitwe Pri Sch
4. Nyarubungo Parish Hqs

Mbarara Municipality Polling Stations

Mbarara Municipality, Mbarara District

3 Divisions
6 Parishes
99 Polling Stations

Kakoba Division
Kakoba Parish

1. Kakoba Central (A-J)
2. Kakoba Central (K)
3. Kakoba Central (L-M)
4. Kakoba Central (N-Z)
5. Kakoba Central C.O.U (A-M)
6. Kakoba Central C.O.U (N-Z)
7. Kakoba Demo School
8. Kakoba Quarters
9. Kihindi (A-L)
10. Kihindi (M-Z)
11. Kisenyi (A)
12. Kisenyi (B-J)
13. Kisenyi (K)
14. Kisenyi (KA-KI)
15. Kisenyi (KO-L_
16. Kisenyi (M)
17. Kisenyi (NA -ND)
18. Kisenyi (NE-S)
19. Kisenyi (T-Z)
20. Kiswahili (A-L)
21. Kiswahili (M-Z)
22. Kyapotani
23. Lugazi (A-J)
24. Lugazi (K)
25. Lugazi (L-M)
26. Lugazi (N)
27. Lugazi (O-Z)
28. Police-Prisons Pri Sch

Nyamityobora Parish

1. Agip (A_L)
2. Agip (M-Z)
3. Central Cell (A-J)
4. Central Cell (K-L)
5. Central Cell (M)
6. Central Cell (N)
7. Central Cell (O-Z)
8. Kilembe
9. Lower Cell (A-L)
10. Lower Cell (M-Z)
11. Lubiri
12. Lubiri Cell (A-A)
13. Lubiri Cell (B-J)
14. Lubiri Cell (K-L)
15. Lubiri Cell (M-N)
16. Lubiri Cell (O-O)
17. Lubiri Cell (P-Z)
18. Market (A-L)
19. Market (M-Z)
20. Old Bus Park
21. Survey (A-L)
22. Survey (M-Z)
23. Ug. Bible Institute Nyamityobora (A-L)
24. Ug. Bible Institute Nyamityobora (M-Z)
25. Upper Cell

Kamukuzi Division
Kamukuzi Parish

1. Booma Golf Course
2. Hospital Staff Quarters
3. Kakyeka Stadium (Kakyeka) (A-J)
4. Kakyeka Stadium (Kakyeka) (K-L)
5. Kakyeka Stadium (Kakyeka) (M-N)
6. Kakyeka Stadium (Kakyeka) (O-Z)
7. Kakyeka Stadium (Rwebikoona) (A-J)
8. Kakyeka Stadium (Rwebikoona) (L-M)
9. Kakyeka Stadium (Rwebikoona) (N-Z)
10. Kashanyarazi Playground
11. Mbarara District Headquarters I
12. Mbarara District Headquarters II
13. Mbarara District Headquarters III
14. Ntare School
15. Pentecostal Pri Sch (Biafra) I
16. Pentecostal Pri Sch (Biafra) II
17. Pentecostal Pri Sch (Biafra) III
18. Pentecostal Pri Sch (Kakiika) (A-J)
19. Pentecostal Pri Sch (Kakiika) (K-L)
20. Pentecostal Pri Sch (Kakiika) (M)
21. Pentecostal Pri Sch (Kakiika) (N)
22. Pentecostal Pri Sch (Kakiika) (O-Z)

Ruharo Parish

1. Kiyanja (A-L) Mbarara High Playground
2. Kiyanja (M-Z) Mbarara High Playground
3. Nkonkonjeru Pri Sch (A-L)
4. Nkonkonjeru Pri Sch (M-Z
5. Ruharo (A-L)
6. Ruharo (M-Z)
7. Ruharo I
8. Rwizi

Nyamitanga Division
Katete Parish

1. Kasenyi Primary School - Rwizi
2. Katete Central (St Mary's P'Sch) (A-MU)
3. Katete Central (St Mary's P'Sch) (MW-Z)
4. Katete Market
5. Kitebero (Shammah Pri Sch)
6. Nsikye (Nyamitanga Division Offices) (A-M)
7. Nsikye (Nyamitanga Division Offices) (N-Z)
8. Nyamitanga Muslim Pri Sch
9. Rwemirinzi Health centre

Ruti Parish

1. Caritas Office Nsikye
2. Caritas Offices Nyamitanga
3. Kirehe (Ruti Rehabilitation Centre)
4. Market (Ruti health Centre (A-M)
5. Market (Ruti health Centre (N-Z)
6. Rwizi (Ruti Muslim Pri Sch)
7. Tank Hill (Victory Pri Sch)

Kashari County, Mbarara District Polling Stations

Kashari County, Mbarara Ditrict

9 Subcounties 
47 Parishes
156 Polling Stations

Biharwe Sub County
Biharwe Parish

1. Biharwe I
2. Kamatarasi Pri Sch

Biharwe Trading Center Parish

1. Biharwe Town Board Biharwe Trading Centre A-M
2. Biharwe Trading Centre N-Z

Kishasha Parish

1. Kishasha I
2. Kishasha III
3. Nyakanengo Trading Centre

Nyabuhama Parish

1. Katojo
2. Nyabuhama II
3. Nyabuhama IV
4. Nyaruhanga

Nyakinengo Parish 

1. Nyakinengo I
2. Nyakinengo II
3. Rwemikunyu Trading Centre

Rwenjeru Parish

1. Rwenjeru I
2. Rwenjeru II
3. Rwenjeru C.O.U.

Bubaare Sub County

Kamushoko Parish

1. Katooma C.O.U.
2. Katooma Pri Sch
3. Komuyaga Pri Sch

Kashaka Parish

1. Kashaka Pri Sch
2. Kashozi Pri Sch
3. Ntuura Pri sch

Katojo Parish

1. Katojo HQS
2. Katojo Parish HQS

Mugarutsya Parish

1. Kanyara Trading Centre
2. Mugarutsya I
3. Mugarutsya Parish HQS
4. Mugarutsya Pri Sch

Rugarama Parish

1. Akabuga-Nkaka
2. Kitojo Village
3. Rugarama II Pri Sch

Rwenshanku Parish 

1. Mukora Pri Sch
2. Rubaare Sub-County Hqts
3. Rwenshanku Parish Hqts

Bukiro Sub County
Bukiro Parish

1. Bukiro Parish Hqts
2. Kitengure Pri Sch

Nyanja Parish

1. Nyanza I 
2. Nyanza II

Nyarubungo Parish

1. Akashanda Pri Sch
2. Kibaare Pri Sch
3. Nyarubungo I
4. Nyarubungo Pri Sch

Rubingo Parish 

1. Rubingo II 
2. Rubingo III

Kagongi Sub County
Bwengure Parish

1. Bwengure I
2. Bwengure II
3. Bwengure III
4. Rugarama

Kibingo Parish

1. Kibingo I
2. Kibingo II
3. Kibingo III

Kyendahi Parish

1. Kyendahi I
2. Kyendahi II
3. Kyendahi III

Ngango Parish

1. Ngango I 
2. Ngango II 
3. Ngango III
4. Ngango IV

Nsiika Parish

1. Akakinga
2. Kibega Catholic Church
3. Nsiika Catholic Church

Ntuura Parish

1. Kyarushanje Pri Sch
2. Ntuura Parish Hqts
3. Omukagyera Pri Sch

Kakiika Sub County
Bunutsya Parish

1. Bunutsya Parish
2. Kagorogoro

Kakiika Parish

1. Kakiika I
2. Kakiika II
3. Kakiika III
4. Makenke I [A-J]
5. Makenke II [K-L]
6. Makenke III [M-N]
7. Makenke IV [O-Z]
8. Nyakabungo

Kakoma Parish

1. Kakoma
2. Katebe Pri Sch

Nyarubanga  Parish

1. Kafunjo Pri Sch
2. Kamwe Kamwe Trading Centre

Rwemigyina Parish

1. Buremba Catholic Church
2. Koranorya W_Market
3. Rwemigyina II

Kashare Sub County
Mirongo Parish

1. Igwanjura
2. Mirongo I 
3. Mirongo II 
4. Mirongo III 
5. Mirongo IV 

Mitoozo Parish

1. Mitoozo I
2. Mitoozo II
3. Mitoozo III

Nchune Parish

1. Nchune I
2. Nchune II
3. Nchune III
4. Nchune IV

Nyabisirira Parish

1. Akaihamba
2. Kyenshama
3. Nyabisirira I
4. Nyabisirira II
5. Nyabisirira III
6. Nyabisirira IV

Rubaya Sub County

Bunenero Parish

1. Bunenero Parish Hqts
2. Rubaya Subcounty Hqts

Itara Parish

1. Itara Catholic Church
2. Itara Parish Hqts

Ruburara Parish

1. Kahooma
2. Mutoonto

Ruhunga Parish

1. Geitemba
2. Kaguhanzya
3. Kateete
4. Keigoshora
5. Rugyerera

Rushozi Parish

1. Kokundeka Pri Sch
2. Kyamutambarire C.O.U
3. Rushozi parish Hqts

Rubindi Parish

Bitsya Parish

1. Bitsya Parish Hqts 
2. Karuhitsi Pri Sch 

Kabaare Parish

1. Ahanikiri 
2. Kabaare Parish Hqts
3. Kanyeganyegye
4. Rubindi Subcounty Hqts A
5. Rubindi Subcounty Hqts B
6. Rubindi _Kabura
7. Ruhumba 

Kariro Parish

1. Kariro Parish Hqts
2. Akabingo trading Centre
3. Burebero Trading Centre

Karwensanga (Rugaaga) Parish

1. Karwensanga II 
2. Karwensanga III
3. Karwensanga IV

Nyamiriro Parish

1. Kurikayo Trading Center 
2. Nyamiriro Parish Hqts 
3. Rukanja Pri Sch

Rwamuhiigi Parish

1. Rwamuhiigi I 
2. Rwamuhiigi II
3. Rwamuhiigi III

Rwanyamahembe Sub county
Kakyerere Parish

1. Bwizibwera TC 
2. Kakyerere II
3. Kakyerere III
4. Kakyerere IV
5. Kakyerere V

Katyazo Parish

1. Katyazo I
2. Katyazo II
3. Katyazo III 

Mabira Parish

1. Kachwamba
2. Kitokye Pri Sch
3. Orubaare

Rutooma Parish

1. Bugarama Pentecostal Church
2. Rutooma II
3. Rutooma III
4. Rutooma IV 
5. Rutooma Parish Hqts

Rwebishekye Parish

1. Bwizibwera
2. Bwizibwera Muslim Pri Sch
3. Mishenyi
4. Rwebishekye I
5. Rwebishekye IV

Rose's Story

My transition from aspiring candidate Nakawa, Division to aspiring candidate for Woman MP, Mbarara District is complete on paper. The transition from urban to rural – semi-urban mind set, will admittedly take a little longer but I will get there.


There is a myth that everyone from Mbarara District, the land of milk and honey, is wealthy. It is simply not true. You will encounter poverty in Mbarara, perhaps not at the same frequency that you may find it in Northern Uganda, but the burdens of poverty are the same everywhere: Disease, illiteracy, workload, hopelessness and despair. Women carry their share of this burden and in many cases it is the bigger part.

The human stories of poverty are often lost in the indifference of statistics so I talk to people in order to bring indifferent data to life. Last week I met a young woman, we shall call her Rose, from Kyarwabuganda in Kashari. She seemed too young to be a mother but the baby she was holding was her fourth. Rose told me she was just a housewife, which I immediately understood to mean that she wakes up in the wee hours to light a fire and cook breakfast before going out to till the fields, collect firewood, do the laundry, tend to the children, cook again and clean the house before her hungry husband returned from work.

I probed her gently to learn her story and that is how I came to learn about her Nigina group. The group, one of many in the neighborhood, has 30 women participants who contribute 10,000/= each weekly and gift it to one of their members on a rotational basis. The women work hard to make sure they contribute so that when their turn comes round they walk away with 300,000/= shillings to do with as they please.

I loved this self help story and wanted it to have a happy ending. I asked her what the women did with all that money after months of waiting and she told me that most of them pay school fees and hospital bills. The women with spouses have found that Nigina makes their men abandon household bills because they know their wives will soon ‘harvest’ from the group. Some greedy men even demand a share of the money to spend in bars. That was not the ending I had hoped for.

After I empathized with her disgruntlement she continued without prodding to tell me another story. Rose’s father died when she was only a child and her mother sent her to live with a cousin, a headmistress of Rutooma Integrated Primary School; so that the little girl might get an education. She was only nine years old. Her cousin, a single mother with only one child, treated her badly. When she was not in class, Rose was tending to her cousin’s household chores even during break and lunch time on school days. One of her chores was to boil the fresh milk that came in daily. The poor girl lived in fear. She sat on the floor at mealtime while her cousin and benefactor shared the table with only her biological child.
One day Rose’s attention was distracted and some milk spilt as it started to boil. Fearing the punishment she would get, she tried to fill the milk pan by adding some water. The headmistress caught her and without uttering a word, she poured the boiling milk down Rose’s bent back.

The next day Rose went to school with her school uniform stuck to her peeled skin. Her teachers saw the blood and she told them what had happened but none would confront the headmistress. It took nearly one and a half months for her wounds to heal. When the term ended she returned to her mother and refused to go back to school until they found another benefactor at Kateebe Primary School.

Rose studied up to senior two and then got married. She now has a daughter and she says will remain in Nigina until her ten month old baby finishes school.

Anne Mugisha

FDC Flagebearer, Woman MP, Mbarara District

anne@fdcuganda.org