Archbishop Ssemogerere Questions Byabakama Over Electoral Credibility

Archbishop Paul Ssemogerere challenged Electoral Commission Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama, demanding an explanation for alleged interference with voter choices and expressing deep concerns about the credibility of Uganda's electoral process. Ssemogerere voiced these issues during Mass at Lubaga Cathedral, an event attended by Electoral Commission officials.

"Why are the choices made by voters sometimes altered despite citizens participating in the electoral process?" the Archbishop questioned, highlighting growing uncertainty and anxiety among Ugandans regarding the nation's direction. He spoke of unanswered questions left lingering among the populace.

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Why are the choices made by voters sometimes altered despite citizens participating in the electoral process?

In response, Justice Byabakama advised Ugandans experiencing electoral irregularities to pursue justice through the courts, emphasizing the legal process as the proper channel for resolving disputes and upholding the electoral system's integrity. He encouraged active participation in the forthcoming Local Council One (LC1) village committee elections, urging voters to remain at polling stations after casting their ballots to witness the counting and results firsthand.

Byabakama also cautioned incumbent village chairpersons against manipulating the voter registration exercise by including non-residents. The article references past general elections marked by petitions and disputes, with some candidates alleging they had won but were not declared victorious, leading to confrontations and delayed results. During the same Mass, Archbishop Ssemogerere also admitted over 30 seminarians into the ministries of Lector and Acolyte.

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The legal process remains the appropriate avenue for resolving election disputes and safeguarding the integrity of the electoral system.