Elections
Last week it was the elections here in Uganda. It was a fight between Museveni (the leader of the last 20 years) and Besigye (the newcomer promising change and prosperity). The last month has seen Museveni support rallying in yellow in the streets against Besigye supporters in blue. Overcrowded caravans rolled through the streets shouting slogans while onlookers showed their support or angst for the party and children willingly danced to the pop music blaring from the speakers on the top of the vans. Each party has a representative hand sign. What we in the West know as the thumbs up sign, here in Uganda means that you support Museveni; and, what we know as the two fingered peace sign means that you support Besigye.
The political atmosphere has been quite heated this past year with the run up to the elections. Last year, Museveni changed the constitution that stated that no leader was to lead the counry for more than 20 years. Being Museveni's twentieth year, he changed the constitution so that he would be able to run in elections indefinately. Besigye, a young doctor (formerly Museveni's doctor) came on the scene as a new fresh face ready to make some real change within the country. Museveni, seeing this as a threat to his assumed win, arrested Besigye and 22 of his colleages on charges of treason. This greatly hindered Besigye's campaign, however inversely raised support as people realized that even Museveni himself saw this young man as a plausable threat. Museveni saw this growing support and continued his attack against Besigye by raising rape charges against him. Of course, there was never any evidence of this and the charges were proven as bogus. With only days to go before the elections, tension was extremely heated in the capital, Kampala. As Besigye and his armed guards rolled down the streets, an intentional head on collision hit the campaigners caravan seriously injuring two of his guards but remarkably leaving Besigye unharmed.
Meanwhile, riots in Kampala, Jinja and several outbursts in rural areas were putting SPW on their toes. We were given notification a week before the elections that the political atmosphere was too contentious for us to remain in our placements for the duration of the elections. We were called into Jinja to spend 6 days at Backpackers in lockdown while the rest of the country voted. It was great to see the rest of the vollies and exchange placement stories. We by far have the best placement. I love Namasagali!
The elections turned out as expected. Museveni won with a 59% majority. Besigye brought in 36% of the votes which will mean a good opposition party....something that Museveni has never had. The overal elections were fairly calm and what was stated by observers as a "generally fair election".
My internet time is up so i will finish this post another time
The political atmosphere has been quite heated this past year with the run up to the elections. Last year, Museveni changed the constitution that stated that no leader was to lead the counry for more than 20 years. Being Museveni's twentieth year, he changed the constitution so that he would be able to run in elections indefinately. Besigye, a young doctor (formerly Museveni's doctor) came on the scene as a new fresh face ready to make some real change within the country. Museveni, seeing this as a threat to his assumed win, arrested Besigye and 22 of his colleages on charges of treason. This greatly hindered Besigye's campaign, however inversely raised support as people realized that even Museveni himself saw this young man as a plausable threat. Museveni saw this growing support and continued his attack against Besigye by raising rape charges against him. Of course, there was never any evidence of this and the charges were proven as bogus. With only days to go before the elections, tension was extremely heated in the capital, Kampala. As Besigye and his armed guards rolled down the streets, an intentional head on collision hit the campaigners caravan seriously injuring two of his guards but remarkably leaving Besigye unharmed.
Meanwhile, riots in Kampala, Jinja and several outbursts in rural areas were putting SPW on their toes. We were given notification a week before the elections that the political atmosphere was too contentious for us to remain in our placements for the duration of the elections. We were called into Jinja to spend 6 days at Backpackers in lockdown while the rest of the country voted. It was great to see the rest of the vollies and exchange placement stories. We by far have the best placement. I love Namasagali!
The elections turned out as expected. Museveni won with a 59% majority. Besigye brought in 36% of the votes which will mean a good opposition party....something that Museveni has never had. The overal elections were fairly calm and what was stated by observers as a "generally fair election".
My internet time is up so i will finish this post another time
