Ugandans went to the polls today to vote in a referendum on allowing multiple parties run in elections. Political parties were effectively outlawed 19 years ago, but President Museveni is being pressured by foreign donors, who supply half of the government’s budget, to enact reforms. Turnout was very low largely due to torrential rains and partly due to apathy.

Ugandans are choosing whether to allow multiparty politics in the East African country in a referendum Thursday, the first step in reforming the country’s constitution, which forbids political parties from campaigning in elections.

President Yoweri Museveni banned multiparty politics when he came to power in 1986, insisting political parties were tribally based and responsible for years of partisan violence and civil war.

Under pressure from international donors and Ugandan activists, Museveni agreed to reintroduce multiparty politics, if a majority of voters approved.

Opposition groups have boycotted the US$12 million referendum, insisting it was a waste of money and the reforms should be instituted without a vote.

Electoral commission chairman Badru Kiggundu made a last-minute appeal late Wednesday to Uganda’s 8.5 million registered voters to participate in the referendum.

“I appeal to voters to turn up in large numbers and exercise their democratic rights by choosing a system of their own choice,” he said.

The opposition parties called for the referendum not to be held; not because they disagreed with multi-party elections, but because it was a waste of money given that everyone wants it. It could have simply been agreed upon within the legislature. The truth is, as the article notes, that Museveni is under pressure for donors for change in the country. By holding a referendum, he creates the illusion of popular support for “his” initiative while maintaining control over the country. Effectively, if you vote “yes,” you’re voting for his new system, but if you vote no, you’re voting to maintain the system that he rules already. Since political parties are currently illegal, Museveni gets the dual benefit of keeping his donors happy while identifying political opponents.

Like other narcissistic totalitarian leaders, his plans are all the more apparent simply by what he says. Just look at what he says here, in context of new political parties and the referendum.

Museveni said that the referendum is not a contest between political parties and the Movement insisting that it was important to free those who feel conscripted into the Movement, disarm those that have been spreading damaging propaganda against his government in the international community and to allow the minority that have refused to embrace the Movement ideology to belong to their own home.

“We are not asking you to vote on what is better between the Movement and political parties; that one we decided a long time ago. The Movement wants to rid itself of those people,” Museveni said. “There is nothing wrong with the Movement; it is the best. The question is how long should we wrestle with people who have persistently refused to join us for the last 19 years?” he said.

Talk about being straight forward! And if there is any other indication of intent, his rubber-stamp parliament last month passed through an amendment that would allow presidents to run without limitation. Oh, wait. What other Ugandan presidents are there? That’s right. None. Just Museveni.