By Burnett Munthali
I am not in the business of donating votes,says Byabakama
The Head of Uganda’s Electoral Body, Simon Byabakama, has received threats warning him against declaring certain presidential candidates the winners of Thursday’s election.
Byabakama said he would not be intimidated by such threats from senior state officials, whom he did not name, emphasizing his commitment to upholding the law and the will of voters.
He was responding to a BBC question about a widely shared video which shows a presidential assistant saying the electoral commission would never declare opposition candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, as president, even if he were to win.
“Some people say if you don’t declare so-and-so as president, you will see. I tell them that I am not in the business of donating votes,” said Byabakama, underscoring his independence.
President Yoweri Museveni, 81, who has ruled the country for nearly four decades, is seeking a seventh term in office, facing stiff competition from Bobi Wine and six other candidates.
Bobi Wine, a 43-year-old pop star turned politician, is Museveni’s main challenger, seeking to unseat him for the second time after finishing runner-up in 2021 polls.
About 21.6 million voters are registered to vote in the election, amidst concerns about the disruption of opposition activities, including the detention of activists and the breaking-up of rallies by police.
At the Electoral Commission headquarters in Kampala, Byabakama said he was not worried about threats from what he called “idle people”, exuding confidence in his demeanor.
“You can see from my demeanour that fear is a word that does not exist in my vocabulary,” said the poll chief, adding that only the will of voters and the law would guide the process.
The video shared by the Daily Monitor newspaper showed Yiga Kisakyamukama, a presidential assistant, claiming Museveni would never leave power through the ballot, dismissing the possibility of Bobi Wine winning.
But Byabakama insisted Uganda’s law, not individual opinions or threats, would determine the outcome of the presidential election, citing the constitutional requirement for the winner to receive over 50% of valid votes.
“The law says that the candidate who receives more than 50% plus one of the total valid votes cast is the president of Uganda. It is the voters who determine how many votes a candidate gets. What the voters have said is what I will declare to the nation,” he added.
Byabakama said he would declare the results within 48 hours of the close of polling, in accordance with the country’s laws, addressing concerns about transparency.
Responding to concerns about the heavy military presence, Byabakama said security forces were deployed to maintain peace and stability, and should not intimidate voters, while investigating reports of polling stations within military premises.
“If we find that it is true, we shall take the necessary measures to address it,” he added, acknowledging opposition concerns.
The authorities cut internet access and limited mobile services to curb misinformation and electoral fraud, heightening concerns about repression in the run-up to the vote.