Democracy in action

It’s election season… Friday we voted for the Guild presidency, as well as the Members of Parliament, which included candidates for each faculty (department), and the international students.  Polls were to open at 8:30, and in African time, we got in line about 10:15 (we got there about 9:30).  My American has been coming out the last couple days, and I didn’t comment about the delay to the election officials.

To vote, one must show your school ID, then be verified as being on the rolls.  It took a few minutes to find my name, which was exciting.  Then they hand you the requisite ballots:  Presidency, MPs, and then your faculty reps.  Walk over to the chair that has a basin, so you can vote and no one can see you (because we were at the football pitch (field)).  Then, walk in a counter-clockwise circle, depositing your ballots in the appropriate box.  On the way out of the circle, dab your finger on the ink pad to prove you’ve voted.  It was great to show my blue pinky whenever anyone asked me if I’d voted yet.

Election campaigns here rival those in the US.  The Ugandan presidential elections are in January 2011, and students are already voicing their preferences.  The UCU elections have been similarly advertised; once the candidates submitted their names, they were vetted by the Electoral Commission to see whether they met the requirements (Anglican, acceptable GPA, required number of signatures on election petition).  Once vetted and approved, then the campaigns began.

Posters went up EVERYwhere.  Candidates came around to classes to stump.  Candidates held rallies to launch their manifestos.  At 9:14pm Thursday night, the night prior to the election, and there was some kind of rally going on, complete with very loud music and shouting and carousing. 

I’d been warned that the election results will be announced as the ballots (paper, of course) are counted, and that the carousing and victory celebrations will be going on for quite some time.  The rain prevented the worst of it, though I did hear some yelling as I went to sleep.