Humanist

Today’s daily writing prompt is spot on for me!

I am reflecting about what the future holds for our motherland. You see, as an ‘independent nation state’, since 1962, our country has never had peaceful transfer of power from one president to another – a spell of 64 years and we are going strong in that direction.

Well, yes, in ten days there shall be another general election, during which citizens will go through the motions of electing their president, while knowing the results already. There is every indication that the incumbent will be declared winner of the election. Only question that remains is by what margin?

These are the facts:

On “Teso Gang” a radio political talk show on “Voice of Teso,” yesterday, Sunday, 4th January 2026, one of the significant leaders in the ruling party structure declared that the ruling party has 16 million registered members; presumably, all eligible to vote.

Reconcile his declaration with reports that for the 2026 general elections, there are 21.6 million registered voters; persons eligible to vote for president, members of parliament (MPs) and the political wing of local governments. Assuming their all 16 million vote in a partisan manner, the ruling party candidate wins by 74%.

It is certainly consistent with discoveries I made as I prepared for the show. Yes, I was among the panelists, contributors, if you will, debating the question of “readiness of political parties and citizens for the 15th January 2026 election process.”

Among my discoveries, for example, it is reported that there are 17 registered political parties in the opposition who have fielded candidates to contest for election as MPs. Apparently, combined, all these 17 opposition parties participating failed to field candidates in 77 constituencies countrywide.

The opposition party with the largest number of MPs current did not field candidates in 200 constituencies countrywide. As in the party of the one considered the incumbent’s main challenger has fielded candidates in only 43.3% of our country’s 353 political constituencies.

Considering the rate at which prior duly nominated candidates are being disqualified after nominations were closed, the number of constituencies in which the leading opposition party has not fielded candidates may increase. Which validates the question:

Will the leading opposition party hold its lead or will another opposition party wrestle from it the leader of opposition status?

No doubt, the ruling party goes to the ballot box in the lead – 16 of its MP candidates are unopposed and have won already before votes are cast. It is apparent that the ruling party will continue to hold the power of numeric strength in Parliament.

When it comes to peaceful transfer of power – change of presidents in my motherland – it is hard to say whether I spend more time thinking about the future or the past. My fellow citizens of my generation, Gen X, who came of age when the incumbent came into power are significantly conflicted.

Many, such as I, internalized his rhetoric that he was going to be different from past leaders of African nations who clung to power. We believed him and thought he would be the first in our post-independence era who would usher in the tradition of peaceful transfer of power.

I suspect I am not the only one who re-listens to his powerful speeches of the past, and or read his writings wondering “what did I miss?” But then again, never say never, as they say. Perhaps, this nth term will be his last.

And that after five years, in 2031, he will be the first president pf our ‘independent motherland’ to peacefully hand over power to another. What a momentous occasion it shall be. I have a dream!