Working towards post-election unity is vital

In Summary

Conflict resolution. The current political tensions in the country, which lately have climaxed in clashes between supporters of various candidates, are likely to create a situation that will spill over into the period after elections. Candidates vying for presidency should not wait until after elections but rather start now to ensure that the rivalry remains only political

In February 1981, shortly after the Obote II government took office with Paulo Muwanga as the vice president and minister for Defence, Yoweri Museveni went to the bush with a few disgruntled people to start a five-year campaign to overthrow Obote.

Shortly after taking power, Mr Museveni started battling Alice Lakwena’s Holy Spirit Movement, and later the Lord’s Resistance Army which tortured and killed people in northern Uganda for almost the same years as Museveni’s 29-year reign.

I, until today, do not think President Museveni came to power by the gun, but rather by being more organised than the sitting government. He had a small number of people, unified with the same ideology, while Obote had a huge destabilised and disunited contingent.
Therefore, in my first 100 days as president, I would spend a lot of efforts on post-election security and unity.

In an Interview with the Daily Monitor, Independent presidential candidate Amama Mbabazi said (on whether he has met Museveni again): “The last time I was there, he walked out on me.”

These two have been close allies until ambitions put them so far apart. They are now in our eyes, enemies and their camps have gone ahead to prove this by accusing and counter accusing each other, with the most recent Ntungamo clashes that climaxed into the arrest of 20 supporters of the Go Forward movement.
The two men continue to stretch each other and one day we may have one reach the limit.

The parables and proverbs already point to looming violence.
One candidate, in reference to the beating of his supporters, said some people had inserted their fingers in the anus of a leopard and the next day his rival said he once saw a snake that swallowed a cow. I can only imagine what their supporters are telling each other.

Then the case of Deputy Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah disrupting Dr Kizza Besigye’s rally in Gulu District, and a fight ensued.

These are the fights we see, those we do not see on social media could be worse, people blocking each other and poking one another, then the violent debates in people’s respective workplaces and the likes. The tension will keep growing and will not heal even if the elections are finished.

Some people will seek revenge in all ways, while others will continue indoctrinating citizens against government.
My government thus will use the first 100 days in office to unify the nation, to put elections aside and work together in the following ways:
Using the media:
There are latent effects that come with the media, these effects cause a certain kind of brainwash and makes us develop a mentality of not letting go. My office will slowly remedy the political brainwash, indoctrination and devastation to the parties through a close collaboration with the media. The collaboration ensures that information is delivered in time with no mistakes. Effective communication brings about trust with the public and I am sure 100 days is enough to crack that nut.

Post-election tribunal:
I would appoint a post-election tribunal that would be tasked with reviewing events of the campaigns and ensuring they are harmonised. This would be headed by a choice from the Opposition and each candidate would appoint a representative to the tribunal.

Compulsory community events:
To further bring the people together, would freeze luxurious events like victory parties and government celebration days. Efforts will be directed to compulsory community activities like general cleaning, post-election facilitation rallies, among others.

Involve the clergy
The religious community cannot be left out since they preach the word of unity far better. My government would task churches to preach post- election unity and use everything in their power to ensure this is done. Churches contribute the largest percentage to how we behave in the society hence their role is undebatable.
The first 100 days of Kenya’s Uhuru Kenyatta were marred by al-Shabaab attacks and so many deaths. I am certain many Kenyans started writing him off as one leader who should be trusted. In my view, most of the attacks could have been solved with more community policing. However, how will a community that is disunited police themselves?

Beef up security
After ensuring unity, my government will ensure security is beefed up starting with individual security. After the elections are gone, life continues and security is paramount.

I would avoid any transfers in security but rather recruit crime preventers in the respective communities. I would also reintroduce local defence units and empower LC courts.

To further strengthen security, I would invest in police patrol system, distributing one police patrol car with at least 10 policemen to a sub-county and a police post in every 5km distance manned by at least six policemen to serve the most immediate needs of the community.