Politicians under the National consultative forum (NCF) have urged government to implement several electoral law reforms to improve inclusive political participation of all Ugandans.
This was during a daylong consultative meeting organized by the National Consultative Forum (NCF) in partnership with Sensitise Uganda and the International Republican Institute (IRI) at the NCF offices in Kabalagala. The Consultative meeting is in line with NCF 5 year Strategic Plan and Key Result Area geared towards promotion of inclusive participation in consultation and political dialogue in the area of Electoral Reforms.
The urgent proposed electoral reforms agreed upon during the meeting among other include, reduction of the current nomination fees by 50%, develop a legal framework to allow Ugandans in the diaspora and prisons to vote, curb commercialization in politics and develop a framework for continuous civic and voter education.
“We also want the Electoral Commission to be an independent body that can make independent decisions and the only way to achieve that is by having an independent appointing authority to appoint the EC commissioners” said Jolly Mugisha, the chairperson, NCF.
Stephen Namatta Bampigga from the Activist Party said that there is also need to eliminate military involvement in politics to ensure a fair ground for all political participants.
“We all witnessed how the government was using the military to torment the opposition in the last election. The role of the security organs in the election process should be to keep law and order and that can be done by the regular Police, the Military should not in any way be directly involved in the electoral process”, he said.
Mugisha further noted that a detailed write up on the areas for reforms and provisions of the law which need to be strengthened involving the role of the Resident District Commissioners and other public servants in elections, curbing bribery and funding of all Political Parties and Organizations will be submitted to the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs in due course.
NCF) is an umbrella organization with representation from all registered Political Parties and Organisations in the country. The Forum is established by Article 71(2) of the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda and is operationalized under Section 20 of the Political Parties and Organization Act (PPOA) of 2005 (as amended).
The Forum envisions being an inter party platform for excellence in consensus building and sustainable democracy and seeks to create harmony and peaceful co-existence through mediation, dialogue, capacity building and conflict resolution amongst Political Parties and Organisations as a means of promoting and sustaining peace and democracy in our country.
Sensitise Uganda is a registered Non-Government Organization (NGO) registered with the NGO Bureau under the Ministry of Internal Affairs, whose mission is to sensitise, raise awareness and build the capacity of Ugandans on various socio-economic and political challenges.