I vote for peace!

It's election eve!

Tomorrow, February 18, 2016, the people go to the polls to cast their vote for the next president of Uganda.  Of the eight candidates on the ballot, the ones most likely to win are either Yoweri Museveni of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) or Dr. Kizza Besigye of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC). Museveni is the incumbent, who at 71 years old is hoping to extend his 30 years in office for another five.  Or will Uganda change the course of history and elect Besigye, 55 years old and a candidate who has campaigned opposite Museveni in the last four elections.  It is a tight and competitive race, recently tarnished by an increase of violent rhetoric and intimidation of the opposition.

So who will win?  Will the election be fair?  Will the results be legitimate? And will it be peaceful?  These are questions on many minds tonight.  In the history of Uganda there has never been a peaceful transfer of power.  Tomorrow could be an historic first for this country.

The U.S. Embassy in Uganda says it is "cautiously optimistic" for a peaceful Election Day and post-election climate.  Many credentialed observers will be watching polling stations tomorrow and the winner of the election won't be released for two days.  Media is cautioned not to predict a winner. Due to the current tension in the country and based on past elections, all 153 Peace Corps volunteers are required to stay safely tucked in at their village sites, far away from the capital and other urban centers until the end of February.

That is fine with me.  There is no place I would rather be.  I love it here!  One would never suspect any of this looming election-day tension based on the rhythm of life in my village.  Oh sure, the occasional truck with its blaring loud music and political message goes rambling down the dusty dirt road.  Posters of candidate's faces decorate the doors and walls of the shops at my trading center and a college tutor likes to joke with me asking if I am voting tomorrow.  But otherwise, the days and nights are peaceful with a sameness I've grown so accustomed to and the friendships I've made after living here for fifteen months.

The sameness, like the children who come down from the hills to fetch water at the pump twice a day, laughing and playing and calling through the fence, "Teacher Sandra, Teacher Sandra," hoping I'm home and come out for a visit.

Or Father Joseph who walks by my door each evening, always greeting me with a smile while carrying his big battery operated radio tuned to the news in one hand and his blue bucket in the other ready to  harvest maize from his garden for dinner.

Even the campus cows (yes we have two new cows) lazily graze in the fields all day until it's milking time and then Joaquin, who tends the cows, shows up at my door with fresh milk for me.

And the friendship I share with my village egg lady, Annette, who lives down the road.  She proudly leads me by the hand and insists I see her two-week old baby chicks before she will agree to fill my tray with eggs.  What a sweetie!

Yes, I'll stay in the village with my friends and wait for the results of the presidential election.  I hope, as we all do, for a peaceful, fair election with a definitive conclusion after a highly competitive race.  I hope for a leader who cares deeply about the citizens and will move Uganda forward.  Annette, Father Joseph, Joaquin, the children and everyone else here deserve nothing less.

I vote for a peaceful democracy.