Uganda’s first televised presidential debate was plagued by half-answers, veiled attacks but also laced with comedy as six men and one woman who want to lead the country for the next five years responded to questions about their offers.

The debate organised by the Elders’ Forum and Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU) with support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ford Foundation also looked like the present presidential candidates were debating a future without President Museveni who has been at the helm of the country for the last 30 years and is seeking another five. His lectern on the rostrum remained empty.

More than 15 million Ugandans will go to the polls to elect a president and MPs on February 18.

One by one, each of the candidates who included Dr Kizza Besigye (Forum for Democratic Change), Abed Bwanika (People’s Development Party), Maj Gen Benon Biraaro (Uganda Farmers Party), Amama Mbabazi (Independent), Prof Venansius Baryamureeba (Independent), Joseph Mabirizi (Independent) and Faith Maureen Kyalya Walube (Independent) took to the podium and after brief introductions, the questioning began.

Moderators Alan Kasujja and Nancy Kacungira, both journalists with the BBC and KTN respectively, probed the candidates on matters touching on the economy, good governance, rule of law, social welfare and their past controversies.

But the most captivating moments of the debate came when the candidates fired questions at each other.

Hard-hitting questions

Dr Besigye who in the past (2001 and 2006) challenged election results while Mr Mbabazi was still in the government asked him (Mbabazi) about his knowledge of election rigging and how it can be worked around in this election.

In his antics that defined the night, Mr Mbabazi before answering first asked the moderator whether he allows “unfair questions”.

“My clear answer is that I am not aware because, I was never involved in election rigging. That is a fact,” Mbabazi said, taking boos from the over 1,000 members of a select audience.

“I have heard some stories about election rigging. I don’t have any personal or direct knowledge of that rigging so it is possible of course that there was rigging, I am only saying that I was not aware. Secondly, I am absolutely determined to do everything possible to make sure that this election is secure,” he added.

With the incumbent absent, the immediate former prime minister who has since fallen out with his former boss and now seeks to replace him was the closet to the ruling NRM that the other candidates could get at.

Evidently the flop of the night, Mr Mabirizi who had failed to answer basic questions properly, got his highlight in this particular segment. He asked Mr Mbabazi to make known his position on the issue of homosexuality.

Mbabazi on homosexuality

Mr Mbabazi began to respond but not without buying time.

“Which gays?” he asked Mr Mabirizi. “You ask me whether I support the gays which ones?” “Well, I have heard this story making the rounds, when I was in Lango I found that one of the MPs called Betty Amongi (Oyam County South), she is a woman, and she was saying that I support the gays or I am gay. You know very well that I am a married man, my wife is a woman, we have children and I have incredibly beautiful grandchildren so I am not gay. Secondly, I challenged Hon Amongi in case she had doubts, to put it to the test.”

Mr Mbabazi also made a veiled attack on a person he declined to name, who he said has been going around on radio accusing him of supporting gays.

“You know gays are people of the same sex. Now, that person talking to me, I am not sure is a lady. I am not aware she has a husband, I am not aware she has children, so, when you compare me a married man with children and grandchildren and someone who is alleging things without any of those, then it becomes difficult.”

It was Mr Bwanika who came out boldly on the issue that put Uganda on international spotlight two years ago when Parliament passed an Anti-Homosexuality Law.

“While I am the president of Uganda, Uganda will never be a homosexual country. There is no proof anywhere in the whole world that someone is born homosexual. We will rehabilitate them to become normal people,” he said.

Earlier, Mr Kasujja’s attempts to portray Dr Besigye as a political flip-flop especially his change of mind on attending the debate, were met with a rebuttal from the FDC flag bearer who said among other things, he had a right to change his mind.

Dr Besigye said the institutional framework of Uganda was built around the presidency and Mr Museveni had dominated it in the last three years.

“I am truly disappointed that Mr Museveni is not here because unlike me, he is our servant, we pay him. He has been a leader for this country for 30 years. He has a responsibility to be here not just as a courtesy but to account to the country.”

When teachers in September 2011 went on strike over government failure to increase their pay as promised, Mr Mbabazi, then the prime minister, threatened to sack them.

Tasked to explain the change of mind, Mr Mbabazi who was lost for words instead claimed he was waiting for a point of order. He ignored that particular concern and went on to explain the teachers’ agreement with government.

The Kyalya-Mabirizi alliance

On many issues, both Ms Kyalya and her campaigning counterpart Ms Mabirizi looked out of their depth. The former, however, on several occasions made comebacks, while the latter completely failed.

Gen Biraaro and Mr Bwanika were on top of the game on the debate about the economy particularly on agriculture. Mr Bwanika promised to dedicate 15 per cent of the national Budget to agriculture so that farmers can be empowered to be productive but also bring agro-based industries to the people. Gen Biraaro spoke about creating agricultural zones and developing related industries in those areas.

It remains uncertain how the close to three-hour debate will significantly influence the voters. A second round of debate, a week before the election, will focus on peace and security, foreign relations, East African integration, the Great Lakes region and terrorism.