By Our Reporter
President Yoweri Museveni has come to the defense of voters in Buganda and Busoga, urging Ugandans not to blame these regions for the outcome of the last general election. His comments follow public criticism directed at the two areas, which played a significant role in the electoral dynamics.
Speaking on the matter, Museveni said it is unfair to hold the people of Buganda and Busoga accountable for what he described as irregularities that occurred during the electoral process. Instead, he claimed the real issue was electoral malpractice, allegedly orchestrated by opposition actors in collaboration with elements within the Electoral Commission.
“There’s strong evidence that the opposition engaged in vote manipulation,” the President said, noting that some election officials may have facilitated the alleged fraud. “This type of behavior undermines democracy and must be addressed.”
In a bid to strengthen electoral integrity and restore public confidence, Museveni announced a shift toward biometric voting for future elections. The proposed system would rely on fingerprints or other physical identifiers to verify a voter’s identity—aiming to curb impersonation, multiple voting, and other forms of fraud.
“The introduction of biometric verification will ensure fairness and transparency,” Museveni said. “It is a necessary step to protect the credibility of our elections.”
The President emphasized that voters in Buganda and Busoga were not perpetrators, but victims of the electoral irregularities, and called for national unity rather than assigning blame.
“Let us focus on identifying the real problems and implementing lasting solutions. Dividing ourselves by region or tribe will only weaken our democracy,” he added.
Museveni concluded by reaffirming the NRM government’s commitment to free and fair elections, stating that the ruling party is ready to compete with the opposition, provided that the electoral process is transparent and the rules are followed.
He promised that future elections would be cleaner, more secure, and a true reflection of the will of the people.
