KAMPALA — Youth across the country have been urged to actively participate peacefully in elections as they commemorate the International Day for Democracy that was resolved to be observed by the United Nations General Assembly on September 15, in 2017.
Under the theme “Participation” with focus on active citizen engagement inclusion and equal treatment as hall marks of democracy.
At the next general election for instance, Uganda will have a significantly youthful population. About 72% of the voters will be aged between 18 and 40 years.
“We therefore would like to use the opportunity of this year’s Democracy Day to call upon government, non-government and inter-governmental entities to ensure that young people are at the heart of Uganda’s political processes as unhampered, active and meaningful player,” said Crispin Kaheru , the Coordinator for Citizens Coalition for Electoral Democracy (CCEDU).
“We call on young people to actively and peacefully lead and participate in on-going and upcoming activities that have a bearing on the 2021 general election – including registering for National IDs and clearly indicating their preferred place of voting. We reiterate, that, amidst the rising tide of threats to democracy, it is critical to continuously nurture an environment where citizens have the power to genuinely determine by whom, and how, they are governed,” he stated .
Matters of democracy hinge around the values of freedom, respect for human rights, access to justice, and the principle of holding periodic genuine elections and enabling people to freely and substantively participate in political affairs of their society.
