Observers here expected a heavy poll in Thursday's general
elections as most Ugandans overflowed with enthusiasm for the east
African country's first ever multiparty election in 20 years.
"Eligible voters, no matter which side they stand for, seemed
eager about the big day and we can predict that there will be a
large turnout in tomorrow's polling," said Victor Torchi, the team
head of African Union Observer Mission for Uganda during an
exclusive interview with Xinhua on Wednesday in Kampala.
"We are impressed by Ugandans' political enthusiasm. They want
the process to go head, not to stop, for it is a historic event
which will determine the country's fate," said Torchi.
Uganda will on Thursday hold its presidential and parliamentary
elections, which is the first multiparty election to be held in
over 20 years.
Multiparty politics was banned in Uganda almost 20 years ago
following the government's concern that they were creating
divisions among Ugandans. Political parties were only allowed to
operate in abeyance.
A referendum held on July 28, 2005 voted for the return of
multiparty politics. Thus, the no-party or Movement system of
government will end after Thursday's elections.
The 11- member AU observer mission, arriving in Uganda on
Sunday, will go to polling stations around the country to supervise
the voting process.
Some observers are expected to go to the west part of the east
African country where the incumbent president came from and two
other teams will visit two districts in east part, home for some
other candidates.
"The Ugandan Election Commission has done lots of preparation
and the process goes well with over 19,000 polling stations have
been set up," said Tochi.
One of African Union's missions is to ensure all the eligible
voters have access to polling stations. To ensure people's rights
to vote is key to the success of an election, he said, adding that
if a rural resident has to walk twenty km to a polling station, it
equals depriving of his right to vote.
Abdoul Kouroma, the group coordinator of the mission, told
Xinhua that the mission would be in Uganda up to March 1 to ensure
that all election-related activities are done with.
If they observed anything out of the ordinary, they would report
it to the public and the authorities.
"So far, there are no negative elements that are supposed to
prevent democracy from taking place. We hope tomorrow's poll will
be peaceful and fair," said Kouroma.
(Xinhua News Agency February 23, 2006)
