The Opposition yesterday moved to kick-start the country’s stalled electoral reform process by presenting a list of changes that must be implemented ahead of the 2011 election.

Forum for Democratic Change president Kizza Besigye, who ran in the 2006 and 2001 presidential elections, presented the views on behalf of the Inter Party Cooperation, a loose coalition that brings together the FDC, UPC, Jeema and CP.

Although the Democratic Party and the People’s Progressive Party are not signatories to the coalition, they were represented at yesterday’s function at the Parliamentary Gardens and are believed to have endorsed the proposed reforms.

In order to make the Electoral Commission more independent, the opposition parties want the powers to appoint EC commissioners vested in the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) with approval of Parliament.

Speaking yesterday, Dr Besigye said an “independent and impartial Electoral Commission is central to holding free and fair elections”.

“The President should not have undue influence in appointing members of the commission because of the continuing perception that they owe their allegiance to him and that he can dismiss any of them even under dubious circumstances,” he said.

In other recommendations contained in the 35-page reform booklet the opposition parties want an end to the use of military and other security agencies in the elections as well as equitable access to both private and public media.

The parties also demanded for an end to army representation in Parliament and the establishment of a code of conduct for security agencies to regulate their activities during election time and end the militarisation of elections.

The Speaker, Mr Edward Ssekandi, promised to ensure that the proposals are debated in Parliament as part of wider electoral reforms.

Report by

Charles Mwanguhya Mpagi & Gerald Bareebe