Congress considers requiring closer U.S. monitoring of Uganda's 2011 elections

A spending bill that could pass Congress as soon as next week draws attention to the importance of closely monitoring Uganda's upcoming 2011 elections. 

The bill - called the FY2010 Foreign Operations Appropriations Act - provides the parameters for the United State's "foreign operations" spending in 2010 (essentially all non-military overseas spending, including humanitarian and development assistance).

In its current form, the bill directs Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to "closely monitor preparations for the 2011 elections in Uganda, and to actively promote... the independence of the election commission; the need for an accurate and verifiable voter registry; the announcement and posting of results at the polling stations; the freedom of movement and assembly and a process free of intimidation; freedom of the media; and the security and protection of candidates."

The bill also calls for Secretary Clinton to provide regular reports to Congress on the status of the elections and how the U.S. is working to ensure progress toward functional democracy in Uganda.

Uganda's last Presidential elections - which took place in 2006 - were marked by widespread corruption and voter intimidation. Opposition leader Kizza Besigye was imprisoned (on charges that were later dropped) during a significant portion of the campaign period, and Ugandan President Museveni succeeded in a bid to amend the country's constitution to remove term limits.

The atmosphere in Kampala, Uganda's capital city, is already heating up as the 2011 elections draw nearer. Progress toward lasting peace and recovery in northern Uganda depends on the maintenance of political stability nationally, so this is an issue on which we will be keeping a close watch.