Today’s we focused on to the upcoming 2026 elections and its roadmap released six months ago. “said NEED President.”
It is disheartening that gov’t is concerned with 2026 than addressing existing electoral reform issues.
Earlier Hon. Norbert Mao rejected any efforts to address election related challenges and proposed a comprehensive omnibus bill through the constitutional review process. He later on abandoned this path due to financial constraints.
As NEED, we strongly reject the notion of entering the next election under the same conditions. The disregard for proposed electoral reforms is particularly troubling. These reforms have been consistently ignored contributing to a lack of progress in enhancing the democratic process.
Herein below is our urgent call to action:
- No more election scams: We implore political parties to recognize the potential for history to repeat itself and refrain from leading Ugandans into another fraudulent election laden with challenges and risks.
- Civil societies play a pivotal role in fostering meaningful democracy. Despite funding challenges and intimidation, we encourage civil societies to persist in their engagement with electoral processes and governance issues.
- We call upon the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda to be proactive in addressing and preventing violence. Their involvement is crucial in ensuring a more secure and peaceful electoral environment.
- We appeal to our partners in democracy, particularly those involved in funding governance and political processes, to recognize Uganda’s current state as it navigates a confusing roadmap.
- Additional support and attention are vital for ensuring a fair and democratic electoral process.
The following key areas are critical for legitimate electoral reforms: - Address the influence wielded by the incumbent president during campaigns and elections to ensure a level playing field.
- Establish clear guidelines for the deployment of security organs during elections, potentially creating an electoral police force directed by the electoral commission.
- Reform the process for appointing the Electoral Commission to avoid conflicts of interest and ensure impartiality.
- Review the role of the army in parliament to maintain the separation of powers.
- Implement measures to generate an accurate and credible voters register, addressing issues observed in previous elections.
- Re-evaluate the demarcation of electoral units to ensure fairness and representation.
- Enhance transparency in the processes of vote tallying and counting to build public trust.
In conclusion, we urge parliament to interest itself in these critical electoral reform issues and refrain from passing supplementary measures that may divert focus from the impending elections. The need for comprehensive electoral reforms is paramount to ensuring a democratic and fair electoral process.
