KAMPALA – Political parties with representation in Parliament under the umbrella body the Interparty Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD) on Thursday, 26 November 2020 committed to holding peaceful campaigns and activities during the election period.
This has been done through the launch of “I Choose Peace for Today and Tomorrow” campaign at Serena Hotel in Kampala.
According to the Country Representative of the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD), Frank Rusa, the initiative is a multimedia campaign aimed at rallying Ugandan citizens to embrace peaceful but vigilant participation in the forthcoming general elections in Uganda.
“As you may have all noted, last week, across the country, we witnessed very disturbing images that could spell much more trouble for the future if nothing tangible is done to intervene at this time and deliberately preach a message of peace,” Rusa said.
He noted that armed forces were seen against civilians, civilians against armed forces and civilians against each other which led to lose of lives, property damaged, civil unrest, tribalistic statements and innuendos issued on social media as well as hate speech.
“It goes without saying that before us is an opportunity to deliberately work towards putting all this to an end. With our platform we have a chance to make history in the narrative of our country, a journey to peaceful elections and it is the responsibility of every political party and every citizen of good will in this country,” Rusa noted.
