Finally, UNAA EC sets dates for elections in Cincinnati

“We are in America and we need to give Uganda hope. You cannot have a redundant diaspora population. There is a lot we can learn from America to change our 3rd world mindset,” James W. Mugeni, UNAA rep., Central Plains.

Kampala – 8, May 2021: After a disagreement between Uganda North America Association (UNAA) electoral commission and Board of Trustees (BOT) over elections that was already in Limbo, an agreement has been reached.

Florence Bazanye, the UNAA electoral commission chairperson, in her latter dated 4, May 2021 to BOT responded to the latter’s letter regarding EC guidelines permitting off-site voting during upcoming UNAA elections.

“The UNAA EC immediately met after the UNAA joint leadership meeting on April, 28 2021 to decide on the off-site voting,” she says.

“The EC would like to inform you that we unanimously agreed to move forward with on-site and off-site voting as stipulated in the current 2021 EC guidelines and processes as written.”

Under Section 7, she announces election day processes and procedures part C, voting times are as follows:

Off-site voting will be open at 12:00pm EST on Saturday, September 4, 2021 and closes on Sunday, September 5, 2021 at 4:00pm EST.

On-site election voting will start at 12:00pm EST on Saturday, September 4, 2021 and close on Sunday, September 5, 2021 at 4:00pm EST.

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“The EC considered first UNAA vote with paid membership but with health conditions, fear of contracting Covid-19 due to large crowds at the convention, and financial difficulties due to the impact of Covid-19 which may prevent member in good standing from traveling to Cincinnati to vote,” Bazanye adds.

She reveals that the EC is following guidance for Massachusetts nonprofit organisations under Chapter 180 of the Massachusetts General Laws, Section 16 of the emergency legislation signed April 3, 2020.

“In reference to election security and integrity, the EC has put in place various security protocols that will guarantee free and fair elections,” she assure voters, and BOT.

“Great decision and thank you for being an integrity keeper. This restores some confidence in participation in the election although tricks still abound. UNAA as an organization needs to free itself from the politics of Kampala like you the EC has done,” James William Mugeni, Council Member, Central Plains reacts to Bazanye’s letter.

“Ugandans in North America remains a great hope for Uganda and that is if they can free themselves from the hopelessness both in North America and Uganda,” he added.

“The EC decision not only takes care of Covid-19 risks but also the poisoning scare that has taken over us in the diaspora. When you are told of going to Cincinnati, Ohio and you think of the paratroopers coming from Kampala, you just can’t trust the hotel reservations made for you,” Mugeni, a critic of UNAA’s current leadership, and Kampala administration, says.

He also demands that “we need to know who is being invited for UNAA. This convention should not be turned into a gutter that collects and runs soil waters”. “Yes, we had the likes of Moses Byaruhanga, Ruth Nankabirwa, Obiga Kania, Balaam Barugahare and so many others spending sleepless nights installing leadership for us. After they are gone, we are reduced to a funeral service provider.”

“We are in America and we need to give Uganda hope. You cannot have a redundant diaspora population. There is a lot we can learn from America to change our 3rd world mindset,” he told TND News in an interview.

On Visa restrictions imposed by the Joe Biden administration against some Ugandan senior government officials, he told the publication: “We even want to help implement Visa restrictions. We want people who will be useful both to us in the diaspora and at home in these visits. Someone whose mindset doesn’t need change in Uganda should not waste taxpayers money.”