A man once stood at the helm of one of Uganda’s most intriguing spectacles – elections. Dr. Badru Kiggundu, an engineer by trade, found himself beating the drums of democracy for 14 years as the head prefect of the Electoral Commission (EC). Recently, he sat down with Daily Monitor‘s Sylivia Katushabe to dish out some tales from the voting booth trenches.
Now, you might think being in charge of elections is a piece of cake, like balancing a Matooke on your head while dancing to some sweet Eddie Kenzo jams. But let me tell you, it’s more like trying to herd a herd of stubborn cows through a field of banana trees – messy and downright chaotic.
In an exclusive interview with the folks at the Daily Monitor, Badru spilled the beans on his time at the Electoral Commission. He talked about facing more pressure than a Rolex stand at lunchtime in downtown Kampala. But did he buckle under the weight of it all? No, not our Badru. He stood firm, like a rolex vendor flipping those eggs with finesse.
Were you ready for the Election Circus, Dr. Kiggundu?
Dr. Kiggundu, with the wisdom of a wily old owl, declared, “My heart’s always prepared for any assignment, be it taming wild elephants or herding political cats. When duty calls, I come a-runnin’.”
“The first time’s always the wildest, like a calf on its maiden voyage,” reminisced Dr. Kiggundu. “2006 was my baptism by fire, juggling elections and referendums like a circus clown. But hey, we made it out alive!”
Reforming the Electioneering Process?
Asked about reforms, Dr. Kiggundu chuckled like a sage on a mountaintop. “Reforms, my dear friends, are like cooking posho. Everyone’s got their secret recipe, but the proof is in the eating. Let Parliament be the master chef, and we’ll taste whatever dish they serve.”
And what about those claims of vote rigging?
Badru shrugged them off like a chicken shaking off raindrops during the rainy season. “If you’re gonna accuse me of rigging, you better bring the proof, like bringing sugar to a rolex stand. Otherwise, it’s just hot air.”
“When the going gets tough, the tough demand evidence,” quipped Dr. Kiggundu. If you’re gonna cry foul, bring the feathers to prove it!”
Diaspora Voting: Fact or Fiction?
“Is it possible?” pondered Dr. Kiggundu, scratching his chin. “Why, even a chicken can lay eggs in the neighbor’s coop if it pleases. Let’s dip our toes in the water and see if we can swim. Rome wasn’t built in a day, you know.”
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing for our hero. He faced pressures from both the government and the opposition, like trying to navigate through a traffic jam on Jinja Road during rush hour. But did he let it get to him? Nope. He stood tall, like a Muganda warrior ready to face whatever came his way.
And as for those stubborn calls from State House trying to sway election results?
Badru shook his head like a matooke tree in a strong breeze. “Nope, never got one of those calls. I was too busy reading laws and making sure elections ran smoothly, like a boda-boda weaving through traffic.” With a twinkle in his eye, Dr. Kiggundu proclaimed, “I may be a master of ceremonies, but I don’t play favorites in the ballot box. If you want to win, roll up your sleeves and earn those votes. Don’t expect me to sprinkle magic dust on your campaign posters!”
“Law and order, fellow Ugandans” declared Dr. Kiggundu, straightening his bow tie. “No calls from the Big House, no clandestine meetings in dark alleyways. We stick to the rulebook like glue.”
Parting Wisdom from the Sage of the Ballot Box
“In the game of democracy, everyone’s a player,” imparted Dr. Kiggundu with a wise nod. “So, play your cards right, respect the rules, and remember, it’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game.”
And so ends our tale of Dr. Badru Kiggundu, the wizard of the ballot box, whose adventures in electioneering will be remembered in Uganda for generations to come. Until next time, keep calm and vote on!
