The unpredictable economic situation in Uganda has attracted the attention of Ugandans of goodwill, with retired Anglican Bishop Evans Mukasa Kisekka, the second Bishop of Luwero Diocese, launching a national relief campaign to help the needy.

According to Bishop Mukasa Kisekka, the aid will help those disadvantaged Ugandans who lack what the basic necessities like food and clothing.

“Hunger is not only in places like Karamoja but some people in Kampala are also starving; we are not about to prioritise given places but our relief will be given to those who seem to be mostly in need,” the Bishop, said at the collection centre at PEWOSA offices on Kabakanjagala Road in Lubaga Division.

Bishop Mukasa Kisekka, who was accompanied by the Lubaga Mayor Joyce Sebugwawo and the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) strongman Harold Kaija, disclosed that other centres will also be opened elsewhere ‘depending on the turn up of people and the amount of relief provided’.

Kaija, who introduced himself as the communications officer of the campaign, introduced other members in absentia, among them former opposition MPs Kasiano Wadri, Jack Sabiti, and Kevina Taaka.

“We are not politicizing the campaign; the issue of concern is about the people who need help,” Mr Kaija said.

On her part Ms Sebugwawo implored journalists to avoid politicizing ‘every issue’, adding that the campaign is an initiative of the Bishop.

Joyce Sebugwawo the mayor of Lubaga who is also a member of the campaign Cautioned journalist about the tendance of politicising everything adding that this is not a program of FDC but a campaign of the Bishop.

“Hunger cannot differentiate between an individual of a given political party, we all need to work together and help our fellow citizens,” she said.

According to Ms Sebugwawo, they will solicit for assistance from organisations like USAID, WHO, the Red Cross movement and from companies like the Ruparelia, Metha and the Madhvani Groups.

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Barely a month into office, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) under new chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi has come under fire from the opposition Democratic Party (DP).

The DP Deputy Publicity Secretary Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro today lashed out at the IEC for ‘taking Ugandans way back into the primitive era of lining behind a desired candidate in elections’.

“Even primary schools no longer do that,” Mr Mufumbiro said at the DP weekly press briefing at the party’s head offices at Sure House, adding: “this is an embarrassment to the democratic system.

He however, urged Ugandans to go and vote in the LC 1 elections “in order to break the 13 structure NRM uses to stay in power.”

“It is the concrete that the NRM uses to stay in power and Ugandans should not shun these elections if they want the President out of power,” Mr Mufumbiro said.

Mufumbiro also criticized the NRM government for ‘voter bribery’, saying the ruling party is planning to distribute mosquito nets to the people through their identified potential candidates for LC 1, as a means of securing majority seats at the lowest rung of the Local Council system.

“They are criminally liable for abusing the democratic policy of this country by bribing voters,” he said.

Uganda is gearing up for the village LC 1 elections in January 2017, after the former EC under Dr Badru Kiggundu failed to organize the elections citing lack of adequate funds.

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