My Experience as a Journalist During Ugandas Elections

By Winnie Kamau

Just before the Ugandan elections this year i had an opportunity to feel the heat of Ugandan elections. I had been invited in  Uganda to train writers on the basic rules of Journalism and Open Data which am passionate about. With stride I took up the opportunity and landed in Kampala the heart of the Pearl of Africa.

They say cowards live for long, I had to master some courage and pen down some few thoughts during the inauguration of President Kaguta Museveni.

The heat in the city made me miss the Coastal city of Kenya, Mombasa and its beaches but slowly I had to adjust to the new climate. Had a meeting with the organizers of the training and I got my brief for the training. WIth Elections around the corner and being a Journalist I was aware of my position.

The first day of the training went well with no hitches and so was the second day. But am not penning my own thoughts to tell you of the obvious but my silent observation.

Ugandans are a very calm people, I think the most calm people in Africa – don’t know if it’s by choice or hereditary (A research needs to be done) – that even in the Taxi (public transport) when the Conductor does not give you the correct change there are no high volumed arguments but calm arguments. I mentioned it to my hosts and they were amused that if it were in Nairobi one party would be rolling up their sleeves ready for battle of the tongue and at times it could get physical. The aggressive Kenyans would not survive for long in the meek environment.

It is no wonder that the President has coign of vantaged his people. Ugandans are not aggressive but flow with the current as it comes and it has made them to become more vulnerable with every waking moment.

To the Kenyan eyes President Yoweri Museveni has always portrayed a tough demeanor that even the Somali Extremists group Al Shabaab tremble just thinking about him. A dearie for many Kenyans because he has always put up the Army facade and takes up his rightful position as the commander of the Armed Forces.

On arrival in Uganda there was so much expectation in the air that in 30 years there was a wind of change blowing. The wind of this massive change was to rejuvenate and give hope to the nation’s which majority of its population are 83% youth.

The wind of change blew in the market and streets giving this almost tangible hope. The businesses continued as usual till 2 am in the the night.  Bus parks and the Taxi Park were alive with businesses booming for many. For the Printing Park more Tees and campaigning material were being printed out.

On  the second day of training we went to the field to look for stories. I had the privilege to follow the campaign trails of Museveni and here I saw how crowds were being ferried from all corners of Kampala to attend the final rally before elections. I inquired from the Taxi driver where the people were heading to and he told me “This have been hired and they are going to the Yellowman” (Yellowman is Museveni) the colors of Uganda’s People Congress Party (UPC). We did not take long on the road only for him to spot his friend doned in a yellow Tshirt and making a lot of noise after conversing in Luganda the Taxi driver confirmed that they guy was at work though he supported Kizza Besigye who was one of the opposing Presidential Candidates.

At the Yellowman’s rally I was not allowed to cover the event since I was not on their preferred media list.

I hopped into a Taxi and went to look for Besigye. This man was not hard to find because as soon as I asked the first person they directed me to an area called Ntinda. On arrival I was shocked to see people scrubbing the road and sweeping. On asking the people around they told me that they were preparing for the President. Adorned in Blue Tshirts the color of the party Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).

There was a lot of campaign frenzy and jostling. They danced and did all this stunts expressing the love of their own choice. When Besigye was spotted a mile away the dances and stunts climaxed. People ran to meet him not minding the street was full and they were giving him gifts.

Hold it there! Come to Kenya politicians pay people all the time to attend their rallies and to support but here, for the first time I witnessed a strange thing. Everyone who came to meet Besigye had a gift for him from money, fruits,seats anything they could get they gave.

One woman was limping with one shoe on asking she said in Luganda “I had to struggle to meet Besigye I even lost my shoe. But I gave my president 500 shs and he said Thank you Nyabo (Madam)” This elated lady did not bother that one of her toes was bleeding. She was so content just shaking the hand of Besigye who is an opposition leader.

The Boda Boda (Motorbike taxis) were his entourage Besigye’s entourage. I must say campaigns in Africa are different. In Uganda they put up this puppetry kind of figure of their preferred candidate and adorn it with a suit and place goodies besides it. This is a hilarious site to look at and they would dance around it.

I had to dash back for the class where we were finalising on visualising data. With the group we even learnt techniques of expressing ourselves. The youth in Kampala they are eager to learn new technologies. If an iHub or Nailabs were to stream there they would end up being schooled.

On the day of elections people rose early by 5am some were on the queue never mind most polling stations were opened by 6:30 am. So the polling went on well despite hiccups with some polling centers not voting. In the evening went to check the polling centers  where they were counting. The atmosphere was electric one could not stay indoors. The young polling officers were surrounded by their mates and elderly. Each were keen to note what their candidate if choice had got. Without a doubt most of the centers visited recorded Bessigye was leading.

But in the tallying centers antipodal results were given. With Social media and money transfer systems shutdown. I knew things were getting thicker.