Key step on road to free and fair elections in Uganda
The CCEDU held its first members platform meeting on 14th October 2009 at the Hotel Africana, Kampala. The inaugural membership platform meeting was presided over by the Executive Director of Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI), Mr. Livingstone Ssewanyana.
The members platform meeting was attended by a range of key actors: civil society group leaders and strategic civil society partners including Democratic and Republican Institute representatives as well as officials from local political parties. Community based organization leaders addressed the gathering and reiterated the dire need for constitutional review in Uganda and specifically the devolution of executive power.
The aforementioned event started with a keynote presentation made by Mr. Arthur Larok, Director of Programs at NGO Forum Uganda, which offered a detailed overview of the range of activities and objectives at the heart of the new Coalition. In the light of the presentation, attendees and presenters began a discussion on the upcoming initiatives that the collation will undertake.
It was raised that CCEDU would lobby for devolution of power from the executive to the strategic institutions of parliament and the Electoral Commission by processing a constitutional demand to amend chapter 5 and article 93 of the constitution.
Other fundamental constitutional changes proposed by the Coalition include the abolition of special interest group representation in parliament and likewise the prohibition of house members occupying both ministerial and representative positions. In this regard, CCEDU recommended amendments to article 113(1), 78(1) (c) and a radical review of the Political Parties and Organizations Act.
The Forum had earlier also proposed constitutional term limits on the position of Chairperson of Local Council V and a reinstatement of presidential term limits in order to ensure smooth transfer of power at party and national political levels.
To establish institutional credibility for the Electoral body, CCEDU proposed a review of article 60(i) of the constitution to enhance accountability and transparency in the appointment of electoral commissioners with clear guide lines on personal qualifications. CCEDU also presented reviewed terms of reference for the electoral body.
At the inaugural platform meeting, CCEDU held elections for its Advisory board and retained its original steering committee for a period of two years. Over 160 representatives from organizations across the country attended the function including prominent community members such as Stella Mukasa of NCG Uganda and Hon. Pulkol of African leadership Network Uganda.
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