The Inter Party Organization for Dialogue-IPOD has raised fears of violence that may arise during the next year’s general elections.
In a brief statement from five Secretary generals of IPOD presented by Muhammad Katerega, the Secretary General of Justice Forum (JEEMA) party at their head offices in Ntinda Kampala, they all condemned violence that marred National Resistance Movement (NRM) party primaries and revealed that they are worried of 2021 general elections.
They include; Muhammad Katerega of JEEMA, Fred Ebil of Uganda People’s Congress-UPC, Gerald Sikiranda of Democratic Party-DP, NRMs Deputy Secretary General of NRM Richard Todwong, and Deputy Secretary General of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Harold Kaija.
Last week, NRM primaries degenerated into violence in some parts of Uganda like Isingiro and Ntungamo districts among others. Candidates and their supporters clashed with opponents leading to the shedding of blood with some people losing their lives.
They contend that if such violence can happen among members of one party, then how will it be in 2021 where the ruling party will be in contest with other strong candidates from opposition parties. Harold Kaija noted that if there is no action taken against those who violated, next general elections will be more dangerous and a battle of blood.
They further called upon the police and other security agencies to enforce electoral regulations in an impartial and professional manner, political parties, independent actors and general public to respect and uphold the role of law in processes leading to 2021 general elections.
Mr. Siranda called upon all the political parties to fight such violence to make sure they will not affect Ugandans in 2021 general elections.
Siranda further stressed that he believed that as political parties, they can play a big role in stopping such violence.
For his part, Todwong said that as a party, they condemned the violence that marred their primaries and urged Ugandans to be careful and shun away from such in 2021 general elections.
Muhamad Katerega said that IPOD will in due course launch a nationwide campaign to sensitize the masses on participating in peaceful elections and shunning away from electoral violence.
Katerega who is also the chairperson Bukomasimbi district noted that many people disregarded the SOPs that were put in place by Ministry of Health to combat the spread of #Covid-19 during these NRM primaries which he said will affect everyone.
