Uganda: NGOs Launch 2016 Civic Education Drive
By Yudaya Nangonzi
As the election season heats up, an Anglican priest has said all politicians urgently need civic education.
Rev Anastasias Isabirye, the head of Mubende deanery, spoke at Hotel Africana on Tuesday during the launch of the TOPOWA - Votability II multimedia campaign, spearheaded by the Citizen's Coalition for Electoral Democracy in Uganda (Ccedu). The initiative is meant to sensitise Ugandans to participate in the 2016 elections.
Isabirye said politicians ought to think and care more about the welfare of Ugandans, rather than their own.
"They [politicians] are so chaotic; [they] rig elections and neglect the public when they are voted into power. Civic education during mobilisation of voters is the only solution."
Isabirye asked God to bless the politicians by imparting wisdom and honesty on them, so they can sustain constitutional democracy during the 2016 general elections.
His prayer was in tandem with the speech of the acting Electoral Commission chairperson, Joseph Biribonwa, who urged the public to desist from "selling their votes" but focus on policy issues in manifestos of various politicians.
"Ugandans should get well informed on who their leaders will be in 2016. This will help aggrieved individuals or parties to handle their issues in court instead of resorting to actions of hooliganism that disrupt other social arrangements," Biribonwa said.
Dr Livingstone Sewanyana, the Ccedu chairman, said the campaign aims at restoring hope among Ugandans, so they can go out and vote in 2016. Some 40 per cent of registered voters did not vote in 2011, and Ccedu hopes to change that.
"As long as one is registered, this is the time to push out those who lie, don't perform, corrupt and forget us by using the power of the vote," Sewanyana said.
He added that unlike the previous elections, the 2016 elections were expected to be more competitive hence the need for Ugandans to do away with voter apathy.
Beside the multimedia messages, Ccedu will also engage in door-to-door moblisation as well as citizen debates to ensure that aspirants speak to their electorates. Biribonwa urged Ccedu to remain nonpartisan during the implementation of their moblisation programme amongst all stakeholders.
The half-day event climaxed with a march in the city, involving people from different walks of life. The marchers pledged to participate in the elections "peacefully, actively and responsibly", while, focusing on issues and rejecting inducements.
Launched in 2009, Ccedu is a broad coalition that brings together civil society organisations and individuals to advocate for electoral democracy in the country.
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