Indeed, in its periodic Election Observation Report dated February 16, 2006 [1] , FHRI expressed its concerns about various violations of Ugandan elections laws, guidelines issued by the Electoral Commission and Article 25 of the ICCPR. For instance, FHRI noted that in certain areas especially rural ones, candidates carried out campaigns in places not indicated on their programmes while some parliamentary candidates were campaigning without having submitted any campaign programmes to the Electoral Commission (EC). FHRI also noted that, in almost all the areas under its observation, political parties were campaigning outside the regulated hours. FHRI also reported allegations of buying of voters’ cards specifically against supporters of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) led by President Yoweri Museveni.
Moreover FIDH and FHRI deplore the failure of the EC to carry out voters’ education especially in rural areas, thus leaving a large number of voters without any guidance on Elections days.
FIDH and FHRI condemn the ban issued on talk shows and media debates about the case of Dr. Besigye, presidential candidate of the main opposition party, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), who has been charged with treason, terrorism and rape. This ban implicitly prevented any debate on the conduct of the elections and constituted a blatant violation of freedom of expression.
Finally, FIDH and FHRI deplore the acts of violence that were committed between party supporters and the use of excessive force by the police against the supporters of all camps, threatening and intimidating people from making a free choice during election day.
For instance, FHRI reported that on 9th February 2006, a clash arose between Democratic Party (DP) and NRM supporters, where stones and sticks were thrown, properties were destroyed and at least five people sustained injuries. FIDH and FHRI also strongly condemn the killing of 3 FDC’s supporters in Kampala on Wednesday 15th February 2006, and the injuring of several others by a military man. Several other cases of harassment and intimidation against political supporters are also recorded in FHRI’s report.
FIDH and FHRI remind the duty of the Government to guarantee the physical integrity of all Ugandans in accordance with the international human rights instruments ratified by Uganda and Articles 20 and 221 of the 1995 Ugandan Constitution.
FIDH and FHRI urge all political leaders to call their sympathisers for calm especially on Election day and the current authorities to refrain from using excessive force against all parties’ sympathisers. FIDH and FHRI request the Ugandan authorities to investigate and sanction all acts of violence committed during the electoral campaign.
FIDH and FHRI call for the Ugandan authorities to take all the appropriate measures to fully respect Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.