2006年VOA标准英语-Ugandan Court Rejects Challenge to Electio

By Cathy Majtenyi
Nairobi
06 April 2006

Uganda's Supreme¹ Court has rejected an attempt by opposition² politician Kizza Besigye to challenge the results of the country's recent elections, won by incumbent³ President Yoweri Museveni. A seven-member panel of judges admitted that there were irregularities in the February 23 polls, but four out of the seven said that those were not serious enough to nullify the results.

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Kizza Besigye 
  

One of Besigye's lawyers, Sam Njuba, describes the court challenge.

"We are complaining about stuffing of ballot⁴ boxes, [we are] complaining about bribery⁵, we are complaining about even the court itself, the way it approaches this petition," he explained. "They [the panel] agreed that there was ballot stuffing, rigging. But they are saying the law is that it must be substantial to affect the results, and since we have not proved that substantial element, we lose."

Besigye, the head of the Forum⁶ for Democratic Change party, ran against President Museveni. The president captured 59 percent of the vote, with Besigye garnering⁷ 37 percent.

Lawyer Njuba says he thinks as much as 34 percent of the population was prevented from voting because of electoral fraud such as rigging and bribery.

 
Yoweri Museveni  
  
Museveni's party, commonly known as The Movement, dismisses Besigye's claims, calling the opposition politician a sore loser.

Movement spokesman Ofwono Opondo says he is pleased the judges found that Museveni did not commit illegal electoral practices, either personally or through his agents.

"We are happy that the Supreme Court has ruled to uphold the results of the election. We call [on] our opponent [Besigye] to concede defeat and to implement⁸ the manifesto⁹ of the government," he said.

Museveni has been in power for about two decades.

Besigye, who also ran against Museveni in the 2001 elections, has had a rough campaign period.

The opposition politician returned to Uganda last October, after more than four years in exile, only to be arrested the following month and charged with rape¹⁰ and treason in High Court and terrorism and illegal possession of firearms in military court. He was jailed throughout most of the campaign period.

Besigye was cleared of rape, and is currently on trial in High Court on treason charges.

It is widely believed that the charges were politically motivated, designed to prevent Besigye from campaigning fully¹¹ and to ruin his reputation, charges the ruling party denies.

1 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

2 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

3 incumbent   

adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的

参考例句：

• He defeated the incumbent governor by a large plurality.他以压倒多数票击败了现任州长。
• It is incumbent upon you to warn them.你有责任警告他们。

4 ballot   

n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票

参考例句：

• The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
• The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。

5 bribery   

n.贿络行为，行贿，受贿

参考例句：

• FBI found out that the senator committed bribery.美国联邦调查局查明这个参议员有受贿行为。
• He was charged with bribery.他被指控受贿。

6 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

7 garnering   

v.收集并（通常）贮藏（某物），取得，获得( garner的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• And at the forefront was Bryant, garnering nothing but praise from his coaches and teammates. 而站在最前沿的就是科比，他也因此获得了教练和队友的赞美。 来自互联网

8 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

9 manifesto   

n.宣言，声明

参考例句：

• I was involved in the preparation of Labour's manifesto.我参与了工党宣言的起草工作。
• His manifesto promised measures to protect them.他在宣言里保证要为他们采取保护措施。

10 rape   

n.抢夺，掠夺，强奸；vt.掠夺，抢夺，强奸

参考例句：

• The rape of the countryside had a profound ravage on them.对乡村的掠夺给他们造成严重创伤。
• He was brought to court and charged with rape.他被带到法庭并被指控犯有强奸罪。

11 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。