KAMPALA – European Union (EU) ambassadors on Thursday held a closed door meeting with Opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) leaders ahead of the 2021 elections.
The head of the EU delegation, Mr Attilio Pacifici told journalists that they meeting centred on issues of democracy and good governance, among them human rights as the country heads into elections.
In the meeting, FDC was represented by party president Patrick Amuriat, party chairperson Waswa Biriggwa, deputy party spokesperson John Kikonyogo and youth league chairperson Walid Lubega.
Mr Kikonyogo told journalists that they told the EU team that the army involvement in national elections, raising might be a recipe for violence.
“We are worried that LDUs are going to be involved in the forthcoming elections and we are saying let police be left to man the elections because it is its mandate. Police should also report to the Electoral Commission [EC) not the IGP [Inspector General of Police],” Mr Kikonyongo said.
He also said they discussed the EC requirement that aspirants to ask permission from police before conducting any political meeting. Mr Kikonyongo said the party requested that this be dropped and the mandate left to EC.
He said the EU agreed to advise the country on how they should hold a free and a fair election.
This is not the first time the EU is meeting aspirants slated to participate in the forthcoming elections.
The delegation last week met the National Unity Platform party headed by Robert Kyagulanyi, aka Bobi Wine, and discussed a number of issues.
