The Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) and the Interparty Organization for Dialogue (IPOD) have launched a campaign dubbed #IChoosePeace to promote a peaceful and non-violent election process.

The campaign is targeted at all individuals, groups, and organizations involved in the 2021 General elections including the state arms, the security forces, political parties, aspirants, and the electorate. The campaign is intended to foster a democratic environment that aids free multiparty involvement in the election process while observing a peaceful and conflict-free political atmosphere in Uganda come 2021 and beyond.

While speaking at the launch of the campaign, Mr. Frank Rusa who doubles as the NIMD Country Representative and IPOD Executive Secretary, said everyone needs to be made aware of the need to participate in elections while ensuring a peaceful and non-violent process. Rusa explained that “As we head into the peak of the election season while candidates at all levels canvass for votes across the country, they will be interfacing with their electorate and as their party leadership, our role while they do this is to uphold the tenets of dialogue and a peaceful election environment. Last week, across the country, we witnessed what could be termed as the helm of a disaster that is yet to come if we do not intervene at this time and deliberately preach a message of peace. We saw armed forces against civilians and civilians against each other; lives were lost, property damaged, civil unrest, tribalistic statements and innuendos, a stifled business and economic situation, hate speech, and utterances of promises of a much worse situation ahead of us among many other things.”

“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,” Rusa narrated, adding that, “Now more than ever, Uganda is hungry for a solution, for an end to chaos and mayhem, to riots and bullets, to teargas and to death, Uganda is ready for a new message, a new direction, and a new slogan.”
“As the leaders of the parties Ugandans ascribe to, we only owe it to our followers to engrain the message of peace which is engrained in our very ethos as a country, but it is only achievable if we collaborate as political parties and leaders towards pushing this singular message of peace, not of divisive politics” he noted. “The message we need every child, every individual, every family, every party every institution, every Ugandan to sing and hold to their heart is the message of I CHOOSE PEACE,” Rusa concluded.

Hon. Mohammed Kateregga who doubles as the Secretary-General JEEMA and the Chairman IPOD Council pledged his support towards the campaign and commended the NIMD committee and IPOD members for the strategy towards collaborated effort and committed fight for a peaceful democratic process. “On behalf of JEEMA and myself I pledge my support towards the #IChoosePeace campaign and urge all political players to be a part of it for the safety and good of the Ugandan electorate,” he committed.

Hon. Mohammed called upon all players including state arms, the security forces, political parties, aspirants, and the general public to join the cause and live up to it for everyone’s good. “It is a decision that all countrymen need to commit to personally in order for us to consider this campaign successful,” Hon. Mohammed remarked.

Hon. Asuman Basalirwa, the IPOD Summit Chair in his remarks said “The impact violence and conflict during elections has on a nation, is far-reaching to the extent of destabilizing the economy, weakening our health systems, compromising our security and worse still, curtailing our sovereignty as an independent nation. Therefore, peace and harmony are crucial to broaden multiparty dispensation in Uganda and uplift democracy.”

“The #IChoosePeace campaign starts today and will run until 15th January 2021 and is intended to reach the last mile of the electorate. It comes at a time when there is a need to change the norm from the instigation of violence into peaceful and democratic processes.

What Uganda experienced last week is not new to the country as previous election periods have been marred with violence and conflict seems to have made its way as the norm for unrest between electorates, the existing political parties, and the armed forces. Unfortunately, innocent civilians end up being caught in the cross-fire. Last week, we lost 45 lives due to the unrest, and the number has the potential to spiral if we remain silent and do nothing.”Rusa said.