VZCZCXRO4956
RR RUEHGI RUEHRN RUEHROV
DE RUEHKM #0576/01 1610719
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 100719Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY KAMPALA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1464
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KAMPALA 000576 
 
DEPT PASS TO USAID 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM UG
SUBJECT: LOCAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS IN UGANDA SIGNAL TROUBLE IN 2011 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: Uganda's road to achieving genuine multiparty 
democracy remains rocky at best, with recent nationwide local 
elections indicating that the Electoral Commission and political 
parties are unprepared for the next presidential and parliamentary 
elections in 2011.  The lack of progress on electoral reform and 
failure to implement these reforms in a timely manner may jeopardize 
Uganda's ability to hold credible elections in 2011.  Donors agree 
that the potential for problems exists and are working together and 
with the Electoral Commission to anticipate and address them.  End 
Summary. 
 
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Background: Local Council Elections 
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¶2.  (U) The Ugandan Electoral Commission (EC) conducted local 
council elections in 79 districts on May 21.  Many of the contests 
were to fill newly created seats in local government structures at 
the town council and sub-county level.  The remaining contests were 
held to fill vacant seats.  The diplomatic community monitored 
elections in Kampala, Jinja, Mukono, Mityana, Wakiso, Luwero, 
Mbarara, Rukungiri, and Kitgum.  The objective was to assess 
progress since the 2006 presidential and parliamentary elections and 
draw general conclusions and recommendations that would help guide 
international community engagement on electoral reform. 
 
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Irregularities Abound 
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¶3.  (SBU) Overall, monitoring teams found that the voting process 
was peaceful and, in most of the polling stations visited, reflected 
the will of the people.  Voter turnout was low and there were very 
few contentious contests.  However, there were a number of 
irregularities and concerns that in a larger, more controversial 
election could be cause for conflict or possibly a rejection of the 
results.  Observation teams reported that several polling stations 
opened late due to tardy polling officials, missing or delayed 
voting materials, and rain.  Observers also recorded problems with 
the voter identification process, including multiple voters without 
voter identification cards or other identity documents, missing 
names, un-alphabetized voter registries, and conflict between 
polling officials and party agents over the identity of undocumented 
voters (Note: There were allegations that the ruling National 
Resistance Movement (NRM) party's officials brought people to the 
polling stations without identification to vote in the place of 
deceased individuals still on the list. End note). 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Monitors reported inconsistent ballot box sealing 
procedures, mostly believed to be the result of poor training rather 
than fraud.  In some instances, polling officials mistakenly used 
regular ink instead of the indelible ink to mark voters' fingers. 
In at least two cases, individuals responsible for marking voters' 
fingers were absent from their posts.  Many polling officials, party 
agents, and Uganda Police Force (UPF) constables appeared to lack a 
strong understanding of their roles and responsibilities in the 
voting process and thus failed at times to properly enforce 
electoral laws.  This, combined with limited voter education and 
information, often led to confusion and in some isolated instances 
verbal confrontation.  In one district, observers reported a more 
serious case of ballot stuffing.  Although observers reported these 
findings to the District Electoral Registrar, the results from the 
station were still considered valid and were included in the final 
count. 
 
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Elections Highlight Need for Electoral Reform 
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¶5.  (U) Many of the problems exposed in the May 21 elections 
highlight the Government's lack of progress on issues raised in the 
Supreme Court's judgment on Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Party 
President Kizza Besigye's petition to hold a re-run or conduct a 
recount of the 2006 presidential election.  While the Supreme Court 
dismissed the petition, it noted that there had in fact been 
"non-compliance" with the Constitution, the Presidential Elections 
Act, and the Electoral Commission Act.  The Court found that the 
removal of names from the voter registry had disenfranchised voters 
and that there were irregularities in the counting of results.  The 
Court found that bribery, intimidation, violence, multiple voting, 
and ballot stuffing had also infringed on voters' rights.  The Court 
expressed "grave concern" over the involvement of security forces in 
elections where acts of intimidation, violence, and the partisan 
harassment occurred.  The Court called on the relevant Government 
institutions to "urgently" address these concerns to "improve 
electoral democracy."  To date, the Government has taken few steps 
to address these concerns. 
 
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KAMPALA 00000576  002 OF 002 
 
 
Opposition Coalition & Civil Society Push for Electoral Reform 
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¶6.  (SBU) Opposition parties and civil society, which remain weak 
and largely uncoordinated, have pressed the Government to move 
forward with electoral reform.  The Inter-Party Cooperation (IPC), a 
loose opposition party coalition, called for the removal of security 
organs from the electoral process; an independent and impartial EC; 
increased training for EC administrators and polling officials; a 
revision of the voter registry and display process; and increased 
voter education.  In addition, other reforms proposed include: 
revising the vote tallying process; addressing political party and 
EC funding; and avoiding the late enactment of electoral laws and 
regulations.  IPC warned that if reforms proposed were not 
implemented, it would be impossible to hold "free and fair 
elections, have political stability, or build strong political 
institutions."  Moreover, civil society groups stress that civic and 
voter education is critically needed and that the EC must become 
more impartial in its activities. 
 
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Resources and Political Will Hinder Greater EC Movement 
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¶7.  (SBU) The EC in early 2007 proposed 18 electoral reforms to the 
Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs to address some of 
the Supreme Court's concerns.  To date, however, there has been 
virtually no movement on the EC's proposals.  Another challenge to 
electoral reform is a lack of intuitional resources.  The EC 
proposed a three-year phased funding plan to implement its 2010-2011 
General Elections Roadmap, estimated at USD 75 million.  However, 
there is no indication that the Finance Ministry will release the 
amount requested in the timeframe proposed.  Electoral officials 
have stressed that the timely release of funding is essential to 
holding credible elections in 2011.  The apparent lack of political 
commitment to address the EC's needs has eroded its credibility and 
supported the widely held view that the electoral body is a "tool" 
of the ruling party. 
 
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Comment 
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¶8.  (SBU) In our view, the conduct of free and fair elections will 
require an impartial and adequately-funded EC and an agreement 
between President Museveni and the political opposition on a way 
forward for the 2011 elections.  We will press the opposition 
parties to take President Museveni up on his promise to the donor 
community to consider EC candidates proposed by the opposition as 
long as they are "persons of integrity."  Civil society groups that 
monitor the electoral process and provide information to citizens 
will need to get better organized and obtain sufficient funding to 
carry out their activities. 
 
¶9.  (SBU) Post is coordinating with other Missions to encourage the 
GOU to undertake timely electoral reform and promote multiparty 
democracy.  We are implementing a program to support the EC and 
political party development through the National Democratic 
Institute (NDI) and the International Republican Institute (IRI). 
However, funding under this program to support electoral reform is 
limited.  Post has submitted an Economic Support Fund proposal and a 
request to USAID's Elections and Political Process program for 
additional funds to support electoral reform.  Our highest priority 
remains timely and adequate funding for the electoral mechanisms in 
advance of the 2011 elections.  End Comment. 
BROWNING