Spearheading Free And Fair Election Consultative Meeting in Bukedi Region
As 2016 draws close, concerned Ugandan citizens are well
aware that they must play their part in deciding the future of their country,
hence, free and fair consultative meetings in all regions across the country.
Forum for Women in Democracy spearheaded the Bukedi regional
forum that is part of the ongoing regional campaigns and consultative meetings
across the 15 sub- regions of this country. This Forum was organized in
partnership with the NGO forum and PACONET, took place on the 23rd and
24th September 2014.
Over 200 delegates attended the meeting from diverse
backgrounds and spheres. Representatives from political parties, some district
speakers, representatives from the academia, youth and women representatives,
media practitioners and reporters were some of the groups present at the forum.
Two district chairpersons; a member of parliament and an RDC from one of the
districts were also other district leaders present at the forum.
As the meeting started, there was a display of apathy, as
some participants believed that Uganda was beyond repair. However, when they
spilt up into groups to discuss critical issues to suggest proposals there was
renewed hope.
20 key issues were tabled before the participants these
included; Political
Parties, Independent
candidates/Independent MPs, Representation of special interest groups, Relationship between Citizens and their MPs and
political parties, Electoral Commission (Article 60), Getting our votes counted- The Voters Register, Demarcation of constituencies and the number of
Members of Parliament (Article 61(c)), Nomination fees and facilitation of presidential
candidates, Use
of public funds and resources during elections, Access to the media (Article 67) ,Age qualification for a president (Article 102(b)), Form of Government, Requirement for public servants and serving officers
of the security services to retire before being nominated for
office, Funding for local governments and service delivery, Salaries and Remuneration Board, and Powers of appointment to Constitutional Commission.
The participants came up with a number of proposals
that will be discussed at the National Forum and ultimately taken to
parliament.
Those that were not able to take part in the forum
followed closely on our social media platforms with the #FFE2016 hash tag.
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