Casting a worrisome eye towards Uganda's Election

Police Brutality

Early 2011 will see a general election to determine the presidency of Uganda.

The election will be rigged.  There will be voter intimidation.  There will be police brutality. It will be violent.  People will die.

In no way shape or form will Meaningful Volunteer ever consider sending volunteers to Uganda during this time.  Our placement area is far away from political hotspots and it is hard to imagine anything untoward happening there.  Nevertheless, safety is our number one concern and prudence is our best course during this time.

How will things look after the election however?

Well, firstly standing president Yoweri Museveni will almost certainly be re-elected.  He has held power since 1986 and is not about to relinquish it.  Museveni's human rights record is... not good, but he at least brings some semblance of stability to the region.

Museveni will win because he has the most money, and knows how to work an election and spend his money wisely.

There will be outrage against the results and the big question is what opposition parties will do.

Will they become violent?  Will they become organized in their violence?

I don't know the answers to these questions.

I do know that if things become too bad in Uganda post-election, then Meaningful Volunteer will pull out of the region and set up its numerous projects elsewhere, most likely in Ghana.