• Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Donate
  • Login
Watchdog Uganda
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Media Outreach Newswire
    • Africa News
    • Tourism
    • Community News
    • Luganda
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Politics
    • Relationships
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • People
    • Showbiz
      • Salon Mag
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Voices
  • Reviews
    • Products
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • WD-TV
  • Donate
  • China News
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Media Outreach Newswire
    • Africa News
    • Tourism
    • Community News
    • Luganda
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Politics
    • Relationships
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • People
    • Showbiz
      • Salon Mag
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Voices
  • Reviews
    • Products
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • WD-TV
  • Donate
  • China News
No Result
View All Result
Watchdog Uganda
No Result
View All Result

Poverty likely to stir vote rigging in 2021 general elections- Activists 

Stephen Kalema by Stephen Kalema
6 years ago
in National, Politics
7 0
ShareTweetSendShare

Activists have said that the next general elections will be greatly affected by the country’s high poverty levels.

Dr Livingstone Ssewanyana, the Executive Director of Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI) revealed that the 2021 general elections are coming at a time when Uganda is sinking in a sea of debts as well as poverty which will likely lead to mass vote rigging.

“Most Ugandans are poor and only a few have money, such people are going to use their money to do whatever they want in elections, they will use it to change results, to buy voters which is against the law but they will go free since they have money,” Dr Ssewanyana told journalists on Saturday at FHRI headquarters in Kampala.

According to reports from the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED), , Uganda’s debt burden is standing at 42 per cent remaining with 8 per cent to exceed the standards of International Monetary Funds by which they cease to give debts to Uganda.

Dr Ssewanyana also stated that government is not concerned about the negative outcome of the country’s debt burden as long as a few people remain with the money that can be used to influence elections in the favour of its candidates.

“Poverty is a big barrier to free and fair elections, normally rich candidates don’t compete with poor candidates. Although poor candidates could be with better ideas, if they don’t give money to their voters during the campaigns, they will vote for rich since he/she gave them money.”

He added that poor people will not freely exercise their choice because they will be bribed. He also noted that where there is poverty, people will want to be facilitated and if money is not there poor candidates will be abandoned thus raising a question of ideas versus money.

Meanwhile, on the issues of electoral reforms, Dr Ssewanyana said that the government is reluctant to put into practice the orders of the Supreme Court because the existing electoral law favours them.

“Not because money is not there but people who are in charge to influence the amendments of the electoral reforms don’t want. The currents laws have not been fair to the opposition but if we are to start on the journey of democracy, this is the time for the government to level the ground for all political players to enjoy,” noted Ssewanyana.

Jude Mbabali one of the board members of FHRI also said that in case of complaints the old laws give a short period of 30 days for one to file in his electoral petition yet it requires a lot of time for consultations.

“We need to put things clear in line, for-example all candidates must have equal opportunities on all media platforms, incumbents must not use government property to campaign for themselves,” said Mbabali.

He added that if Uganda is to ascend to the next level in terms of democracy, the ruling government must adhere to the orders of the Supreme Court and facilitate the amendments of electoral laws.


Do you have a story in your community or an opinion to share with us: Email us at editorial@watchdoguganda.com

Share1Tweet1SendShare

Related Posts

News

Minister Babalanda Elected NRM Chairperson Women’s League for Buyende District

24th May 2025 at 15:29
News

Bahati’s NRM Vote Count Dwarfs All Opposition in Kabale

24th May 2025 at 11:42
Bukoto Central Richard sebamala has declared his interest to contest for DP president General
National

Sebamala blasts Mao for manipulating DP elections

22nd May 2025 at 10:24
Next Post

UTL Saga: Is Evelyn Anite changing from “Togikwatako” villain to economic patriot?

  • Prostitution in Uganda- Courtesy Photo

    10 dangerous hotspots known for prostitutes in Kampala

    1013 shares
    Share 405 Tweet 253
  • Sudhir’s son Rajiv Ruparelia perishes in fatal motor accident 

    49 shares
    Share 20 Tweet 12
  • Has Billionaire Sudhir Ruparelia Replaced Rajiv with Sister Sheena in Managing the Ruparelia Group of Companies?

    19 shares
    Share 8 Tweet 5
  • Why Would Rajiv Ruparelia Be Cremated on Tuesday?

    14 shares
    Share 6 Tweet 4
  • Retired civil servant reaps big from coffee farming, credits President Museveni’s visionary leadership 

    13 shares
    Share 5 Tweet 3
Facebook Twitter

Contact Information

Watchdog Uganda is a portal for solution journalism, trending news plus cutting edge commentaries in the fields of politics, security, business, tourism, entertainment, technology, agriculture, climate change, environment, public health et al. We also give preference to Ugandan community news and topical discussions. The portal also publishes community news and topical discussions.

Email: editorial@watchdoguganda.com
To Advertise:Click here

Latest News

President Museveni celebrates spiritual awakening as churches break from religious sectarianism 

24th May 2025 at 21:34

President Museveni pledges support to Gomba youth and women

24th May 2025 at 21:27

Check out

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Minister Muruli Mukasa

LIST: New salary structure for civil servants starting July 2020 out; scientists, lecturers get juicy pay rise

24th May 2020 at 10:45
Pregnant woman

Shock as 17-year old boy impregnates his two sisters during Covid-19 lockdown 

17th June 2020 at 08:17
Sudhir Ruparelia has dominated the Uganda rich list for more than a decade

Billionaire Sudhir’s wisdom on how to invest in real estate

0

How a boy’s destiny turned from cotton grower to communications guru

0

President Museveni celebrates spiritual awakening as churches break from religious sectarianism 

24th May 2025 at 21:34

President Museveni pledges support to Gomba youth and women

24th May 2025 at 21:27

© 2025 Watchdog Uganda

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Media Outreach Newswire
    • Africa News
    • Tourism
    • Community News
    • Luganda
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Politics
    • Relationships
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • People
    • Showbiz
      • Salon Mag
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Voices
  • Reviews
    • Products
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • WD-TV
  • Donate
  • China News

© 2025 Watchdog Uganda