Uganda's election issues

The election is seen by many voters as a battle of personalities

By Ali Mutassa in Kampala

Most Ugandans remain at a loss as to explain what exactly the issues are in the presidential elections - which according to critics of President Museveni is precisely the problem with the political system he has devised.

The issues have become hidden behind the politics of the Movement system - which according to proponents outlaws multi-party politics in order to prevent the worst excesses of post-independence politicians.

A young man observed to me: "I do not understand the issues, but I know the candidates."

In fact the six candidates vying for the presidency are:

• Incumbent Yoweri Kaguta Museveni
  
• Col (retired) Dr Kizza Besigye
  
• MP Aggrey Awori
  
• University lecturer Mohammad Kibirige Mayanja
  
• Businessman Chapaa Karuhanga
  
• Lawyer Francis Bwengye

They all have slick manifestos, some have even slicker web sites and they all hit the campaign trail with zeal.

The main subjects that keep cropping up in campaigning are the free provision of primary education, healthcare costs, the modernisation of agriculture and good governance but these are having little impact.

In fact what is getting people talking is the issue of electoral violence, which is marring campaigning, and fears among some that the election could be rigged.

There are though four issues that stand out - even if one has to scratch beneath the surface to find them.

Democracy

The issue of democracy is shrouded in the Movement philosophy of meritocracy.

Dr Besigye: Advocates a return to democracy

According to its proponents, the Movement is an all-inclusive political system as opposed to multiparty politics which are labelled sectarian, tribalist and undemocratic.

But opponents say the movement system is little more than a one party state, and a thinly disguised way of maintaining a personality cult around leaders.

Opponents also say it has accelerated the accumulation of riches by those with power - the bane of African politics.

President Museveni's main rival says he will return Uganda to democracy and says the Movement is undemocratic, dishonest and corrupt.

Economics

The country's economic performance has been highly creditable in sub-Saharan Africa according to IMF and World Bank statistics, with annual growth rate at more than 7% in the 1990s.

But despite that many Ugandans feel they are getting poorer.

And the privatisation polciy pursued by the Ugandan government is seen by many as a scramble by Movement sanctioned "big men" for the fruits of state-owned property.

Critics argue that corruption and nepotism have never been worse.

Security

Uganda's involvement in foreign wars especially in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Sudan have also proved unpopular.

Museveni: Built "his" army from scratch

Many give President Museveni the benefit of the doubt here, with the safety of Uganda's own borders of overriding importance.

But others suspect that the plundering of Congo's mineral wealth lies behind this military intervention - with corruption rather than security underpinning the foreign intervention in DR Congo.

The army

The national army, the Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF), is another major issue.

President Museveni claims he built the UPDF from scratch and calls it "my army".

He once said that anyone "messing" with his army would go "six foot under".

But his opponents want the army reformed and suspicions are rife among ordinary voters concerning, in particular, the neutrality of senior officers' during the on-going presidential campaigns.

Mr Museveni claims the UPDF is not yet a professional army so he needs another term of five years to work on it.

Sceptics wonder though that if he could not professionalise the army in 15 years of his uninterrupted rule, what magic wand will he wave to accomplish that feat in five?