Museveni’s NRM perplexed by EC Boss Byabakama’s roadmap, says party lawyer

NRM lawyer Oscar Kihika says the Electoral Commission (EC) should have consulted all political players before announcing the revised 2021 elections road map.

Kihika says the revised roadmap guidelines such as ban on campaign rallies had also affected the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).

“Even the NRM is perplexed,” Kihika, also senior partner at Byenkya  Kihika & Company Advocates, said during Urban TV’s Crossfire.

“It should have been better to consult all stakeholders before crafting the final roadmap. It does not take a lot of time engaging party leaders and all those involved.”

The EC road map has attracted a lot of criticism from the opposition and some voices in the NRM.

Presidential hopeful Joseph Kabuleta even sued the EC and its chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama over the roadmap.

But Byabakama recently said the Commission was considering proposals to allow regulated meetings and door-to-door campaigns.

Parties like NRM are yet to pick flag bearers.

Election of the ruling parties official candidates will require card holders to line behind candidates of their choice.

A ban on rallies and meetings has left the NRM and other political parties stuck.

NRM Chairman President Yoweri Museveni has held Central Executive Committee (CEC) meetings on the matter but no agreement was reached.

Meanwhile, former ethics minister Miria Matembe predicted that “it is very clear that this election will not be free and fair.”

“The environment is not the most favorable for holding one. Some of the aspirants have been locked down both physically and financially.”

Also the Chairperson of Citizen coalition on electoral democracy in Uganda (Ccedu), Matembe even proposed that “we should stop going to elections as a formality.”

“Free and fair elections mean everyone can participate freely.”