Ugandans Launch Campaign for Free and Fair Elections
PRESS RELEASE
Ugandans Launch Campaign for Free and Fair Elections
Kampala, Boston, London, Toronto
11thJuly, 2009
Today a broad spectrum of Ugandans launched a major national and international campaign for free and fair elections in Uganda. This collective patriotic mission is called Campaign for Democracy and Justice in Uganda (CDJ).The interim president of CDJ, Mr. John Mayanja, stated: “Previous elections conducted by the Museveniregime, which has been in power for 24 years, were massively rigged and manifestly lacked a levelplaying field. We must absolutely change this. This is the primary reason for the formation and launchingof CDJ.”CDJ will campaign for the following norms and standards:
genuinely free and fair elections;
transparent democratic practice and process;
the rule of law and accountability;
justice and equity for all Ugandans;
national unity.These norms and standards constitute the foundation for democracy and good government in Uganda and worldwide.
CDJ is not a political party. It is a non-partisan advocacy project committed to advancing the norms,principles, and standards set out above. CDJ is not affiliated with any particular political parties inUganda; it is a broad-based network of Ugandan patriots, within the country and in the Diaspora, of diverse political affiliations and persuasion.
A particularly important date is approaching on the Ugandan political calendar. The country is preparingto hold national elections in 2011. CDJ will not support any parties or candidates in the forthcomingelectoral contests. Its preoccupation is to mount a vigorous campaign for genuinely free and fair elections, with a level playing field for all.The interim chairman of CDJ, Olara A. Otunnu noted: “Today, Uganda is a country in the throes of agrave national crisis and distress. The best way to combat this malaise is the institution of genuinedemocratic practice and process, beginning with free and fair elections. This would allow the Ugandanpeople to freely choose and shape their own destiny. It would ensure that leaders are held fullyaccountable for their actions before the law and the electorate. Democratic process also is the best way toprevent resort to violent conflict.” CDJ calls on Ugandan patriots of all hues, both within the country and in the Diaspora, to come togetherand mount a robust campaign for free and fair elections in 2011. The interim secretary, ProfessorAloysius Lugira stated: “The norms and standards for free and fair elections are now universally accepted.Uganda must not continue to be a perennial exception to universally accepted standards”.
This campaign is in support of the demands for electoral reforms which have been jointly tabled by the political parties in Uganda. The campaign is being launched today on the occasion of President BarackObama’s speech in Accra; we are inspired by his seminal message, in particular on free and fair elections, accountability, anti-corruption, anti-ethnic sectarianism, anti-nepotism, and equitable opportunity, asindispensable components of democratic governance.
Significantly this campaign also echoes and is inline with observations and recommendations made in 2006 by all election observers, including the European Union, the Commonwealth, and Ugandan civil society led by the Uganda Joint ChristianCouncil (UJCC) and the ruling of the Supreme Court of Uganda. 2011 must inaugurate a new era for Uganda--an era of free and fair elections, with a level playing field.
Ugandans demand, deserve and will accept nothing less. As President Barack Obama stated today,“History is on the side of these brave Africans.”
Signed by:Mr. Olara A. Otunnu (Interim Chairman)
Mr. James Ssemakula (Interim Deputy Chairman)
Mr. John Mayanja (Interim President)
Mr. Mubiru Musoke (Interim Treasurer)
Professor Aloysius Lugira (Interim Secretary)
For further information, contact:
Mr. Jude MbabaaliFoundation for African Development [FAD]P.O. Box 2326, Kampala
Tel: 041 4510 486/041 4269 562 Mobile: 0772 444 663 Email: mbabaalij@yahoo.com; fad@infocom.co.ug
Professor Aloysius LugiraTel: 617-522-3539 or 781-439-3875 Email:lugira.cdj@gmail.com; lugira@bc.edu
Ugandans Launch Campaign for Free and Fair Elections
Kampala, Boston, London, Toronto
11thJuly, 2009
Today a broad spectrum of Ugandans launched a major national and international campaign for free and fair elections in Uganda. This collective patriotic mission is called Campaign for Democracy and Justice in Uganda (CDJ).The interim president of CDJ, Mr. John Mayanja, stated: “Previous elections conducted by the Museveniregime, which has been in power for 24 years, were massively rigged and manifestly lacked a levelplaying field. We must absolutely change this. This is the primary reason for the formation and launchingof CDJ.”CDJ will campaign for the following norms and standards:
genuinely free and fair elections;
transparent democratic practice and process;
the rule of law and accountability;
justice and equity for all Ugandans;
national unity.These norms and standards constitute the foundation for democracy and good government in Uganda and worldwide.
CDJ is not a political party. It is a non-partisan advocacy project committed to advancing the norms,principles, and standards set out above. CDJ is not affiliated with any particular political parties inUganda; it is a broad-based network of Ugandan patriots, within the country and in the Diaspora, of diverse political affiliations and persuasion.
A particularly important date is approaching on the Ugandan political calendar. The country is preparingto hold national elections in 2011. CDJ will not support any parties or candidates in the forthcomingelectoral contests. Its preoccupation is to mount a vigorous campaign for genuinely free and fair elections, with a level playing field for all.The interim chairman of CDJ, Olara A. Otunnu noted: “Today, Uganda is a country in the throes of agrave national crisis and distress. The best way to combat this malaise is the institution of genuinedemocratic practice and process, beginning with free and fair elections. This would allow the Ugandanpeople to freely choose and shape their own destiny. It would ensure that leaders are held fullyaccountable for their actions before the law and the electorate. Democratic process also is the best way toprevent resort to violent conflict.” CDJ calls on Ugandan patriots of all hues, both within the country and in the Diaspora, to come togetherand mount a robust campaign for free and fair elections in 2011. The interim secretary, ProfessorAloysius Lugira stated: “The norms and standards for free and fair elections are now universally accepted.Uganda must not continue to be a perennial exception to universally accepted standards”.
This campaign is in support of the demands for electoral reforms which have been jointly tabled by the political parties in Uganda. The campaign is being launched today on the occasion of President BarackObama’s speech in Accra; we are inspired by his seminal message, in particular on free and fair elections, accountability, anti-corruption, anti-ethnic sectarianism, anti-nepotism, and equitable opportunity, asindispensable components of democratic governance.
Significantly this campaign also echoes and is inline with observations and recommendations made in 2006 by all election observers, including the European Union, the Commonwealth, and Ugandan civil society led by the Uganda Joint ChristianCouncil (UJCC) and the ruling of the Supreme Court of Uganda. 2011 must inaugurate a new era for Uganda--an era of free and fair elections, with a level playing field.
Ugandans demand, deserve and will accept nothing less. As President Barack Obama stated today,“History is on the side of these brave Africans.”
Signed by:Mr. Olara A. Otunnu (Interim Chairman)
Mr. James Ssemakula (Interim Deputy Chairman)
Mr. John Mayanja (Interim President)
Mr. Mubiru Musoke (Interim Treasurer)
Professor Aloysius Lugira (Interim Secretary)
For further information, contact:
Mr. Jude MbabaaliFoundation for African Development [FAD]P.O. Box 2326, Kampala
Tel: 041 4510 486/041 4269 562 Mobile: 0772 444 663 Email: mbabaalij@yahoo.com; fad@infocom.co.ug
Professor Aloysius LugiraTel: 617-522-3539 or 781-439-3875 Email:lugira.cdj@gmail.com; lugira@bc.edu
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