Uganda

Nancy Kacungira recently co-moderated the presidential debate. Before that, she had a stint at the BBC, having won the BBC Komla Dumor award.

It is for this reason that we want to suggest that the presidential debate becomes a gazetted activity on the election calendar and should be part of the Independent Electoral Commission’s roadmap in the future.

Two things stood out on the night Uganda held its first presidential debate; one, accountability remains a sticky issue and second; implementation, let alone reform, is still a great challenge as far as delivering public goods and services.

The debate is the thing. And President Yoweri Museveni missed it the last time - on Jan. 15. Another one is slated for Feb.10. Should he miss it again?

In-spite of candidate Yoweri Museveni's conspicuous absence and the questionable quality of the debating skills displayed by some presidential candidates, the evening of January 15, 2016, will forever be etched in the annals of Uganda's checkered history as a day of some serious political reckoning.

The candidates performed to varying levels of competence with some easily tackling any questions that came their way while others looked out of their depth.

President Museveni probably had little to gain and more to lose from the television debate, when one comes to think of it.

In a mini-survey, many residents said the President, who has been in power for 30 years, should have appeared to show the other seven candidates vying for his seat in next month's election that he is still the best leader of the country.

The Inter-Religious Council of Uganda has scoffed at President Yoweri Museveni for likening Friday’s presidential debate to a high school debate.

On the night of 15 January, Uganda held its first ever televised presidential debate. The incumbent Yoweri Museveni skipped the momentous occasion, arguing that the “majority of our voters may not be able to watch the debate”, but his seven challengers for office took bravely to the stage.