The Citizens’ Coalition for Electoral Democracy in Uganda (CCEDU) is a new initiative to forge a coordinated effort leading to the progressive improvement in the electoral processes in Uganda especially in light of the forthcoming general elections in 2011 and future elections.
The CCEDU is a civil society coalition spearheaded and promoted by like-minded civil society organisations: FHRI, DENIVA, NGO FORUM, ACODE, FIDA –U, HURINET, CDRN, UWONET, UMDF, NUDIPU and UPPA. It was launched on 19th August 2009 in Kampala with an overriding agenda of advocating and promoting integrity, transparency and active citizen participation in Uganda’s electoral process in order to deepen democracy in Uganda.
The launch was presided over by the Speaker of Uganda’s 8th Parliament, Hon. Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi and a key note address given by the Chairperson of the Uganda Electoral Commission, Engineer Dr. Badru Kiggundu. A plethora of key actors such as development partners, civil society group leaders and representatives, political party representatives and representatives of foreign missions in Uganda attended the event.
In light of the forthcoming national elections, Mr. Godber Tumushabe of ACODE made a presentation of the CCEDU proposed electoral reforms. Participants engaged in a fruitful interaction with the presenters and finally, the event concluded with a commitment to engage with a diverse spectrum of players including Government, Parliament, political parties, media houses, youth and women groups as indispensable partners in the pursuit of electoral democracy and good governance in Uganda.
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