Commonwealth observers to monitor Uganda's elections

Former president of Botswana Sir Ketumile Masire will lead a 13-member Commonwealth Observer Group to monitor Uganda's general elections, the Commonwealth Secretariat has announced.

A press release from Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon was quoted by local press as saying on Sunday that the observer group was set up in response to an invitation from the government of Uganda.

Masire, 81, succeeded the late Seretse Khama as the second president of the Republic of Botswana in 1980 and won the presidential elections four years later. But he turned down requests by his Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) to continue in power and eventually quit the presidency in March 1998.

He is now actively involved in conflict resolution and prevention, promotion of good governance and representative democracy, as well as mentoring young African leaders.

The group is to submit its report to the Commonwealth secretary general, who will forward it to the government of Uganda, the Electoral Commission, the leadership of the political parties taking part in the elections and thereafter to all Commonwealth governments.

The terms of reference for the observer group include observing relevant aspects of the organization and conduct of the presidential and parliamentary elections in accordance with the laws of Uganda.

Meanwhile, Max Van den Berg, a member of the European Parliament is due in Kampala on Sunday to lead the European Union Election Observation Mission.

Berg was invited by the Ugandan government and the Electoral Commission to observe the presidential and parliamentary elections which are scheduled for February 23.

Source: Xinhua