Informative training for election observers to monitor the pre and post election events in the Rwenzori region comes to an end. By Godfrey and Timothy

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The two day workshop on electoral monitoring process for the Rwenzori region comes to an end. The workshop started on Wednesday 20^th October 2010 at 9.30 am. Participants were drawn from RWECO partners Rwenzori Information Centers Network (RIC-NET) Karambi Action for Life Improvement (KALI), Rwenzori Anti- Corruption coalition (RAC), Good hope Foundation, Integrated women in development programme (IWDP), Kabarole research and resource Center (KRC), organizations operating in the seven districts of the region. The consortium is aimed at ensuring that there is free and fair elections in the Rwenzori region

A 2-day workshop on election monitoring process was organized By RWECO as a learning event for election observers for the forth coming general election in Uganda

From the workshop the emerging issues were focusing on the benefits of a democratic, free and fair election, the neutrality of the election commission and how the citizen’s participation will be guided. Below are the key issues that emerged from the discussions

1. It was a general belief that the democratic exercise/practice though expensive in the short run it is profitable in the long run

2. That democratic culture is infectious
3. That democratic fruits have to be tested by all citizens and that everybody has a right to participate in the process
4. That democratic system can only be as good the players(stakeholders) call for a thorough analysis of all key stakeholders and their contribution to the fairness of the electoral process
5. That electoral commission official often temper with results at the tallying stage an issue vehemently rejected by district registrars present. That the mismatch with the tallied results with those generated by candidates from their agents has always been a source electoral conflicts and violence.
6. The circumstances under which polling stations are gazette including issues of polling stations for soldiers on operation in areas were questioned by the participants. Wandering why there is always unnecessary deployment of soldiers in some areas who in turn vote.
7. The participants needed to know the contribution of the electoral commission to the enactment of electoral laws
8. Voter education was yet another serious emerging issue from the plenary. Participants asked for explanations as to why voter education is always delayed and rushed towards election. The this the response was delay in release of funds from the ministry of finance
9. Participants were not satisfied with the way the accreditation process has been handled. The rising issue was when the accreditation cards for observers will be released given the fact that the process is already behind time.
10. The other worry was that the electoral commission demand for identification tags for observers could be a ploy to block civil society organisations from observing the elections. To this, participants wanted clarification as to when cards will be ready and whether they will be ready in time.