--- On Tue, 7/14/09, musamize <musam...@yahoo.com> wrote:
From: musamize <musam...@yahoo.com>
Subject: {UAH} Ugandans Launch Campaign for Free and Fair Elections
To: ugandans-at-he...@googlegroups.com, feds...@yahoogroups.com,
dp_...@yahoogroups.com, ugandanet@kym.net
Date: Tuesday, July 14, 2009, 6:10 PM
PRESS RELEASE
Ugandans Launch Campaign for Free and Fair Elections
Kampala, Boston, London, Toronto
11th July, 2009
Today a broad spectrum of Ugandans launched a major national and international
campaign for free and fair elections in Uganda. This collective patriotic
mission is called Campaign for Democracy and Justice in Uganda (CDJ).
The interim president of CDJ, Mr. John Mayanja, stated: “Previous elections
conducted by the Museveni regime, which has been in power for 24 years, were
massively rigged and manifestly lacked a level playing field. We must
absolutely change this. This is the primary reason for the formation and
launching of CDJ.”
CDJ will campaign for the following norms and standards:
. genuinely free and fair elections;
. transparent democratic practice and process;
. the rule of law and accountability;
. justice and equity for all Ugandans;
. national unity.
These norms and standards constitute the foundation for democracy and good
government in Uganda and worldwide.
CDJ is not a political party. It is a non-partisan advocacy project committed
to advancing the norms, principles, and standards set out above. CDJ is not
affiliated with any particular political parties in Uganda; it is a broad-based
network of Ugandan patriots, within the country and in the Diaspora, of diverse
political affiliations and persuasion.
A particularly important date is approaching on the Ugandan political calendar.
The country is preparing to hold national elections in 2011. CDJ will not
support any parties or candidates in the forthcoming electoral contests. Its
preoccupation is to mount a vigorous campaign for genuinely free and fair
elections, with a level playing field for all.
The interim chairman of CDJ, Olara A. Otunnu noted: “Today, Uganda is a country
in the throes of a grave national crisis and distress. The best way to combat
this malaise is the institution of genuine democratic practice and process,
beginning with free and fair elections. This would allow the Ugandan people to
freely choose and shape their own destiny. It would ensure that leaders are
held fully accountable for their actions before the law and the electorate.
Democratic process also is the best way to prevent resort to violent conflict.”
CDJ calls on Ugandan patriots of all hues, both within the country and in the
Diaspora, to come together and mount a robust campaign for free and fair
elections in 2011. The interim secretary, Professor Aloysius Lugira stated:
“The norms and standards for free and fair elections are now universally
accepted. Uganda must not continue to be a perennial exception to universally
accepted standards”.
This campaign is in support of the demands for electoral reforms which have
been jointly tabled by the political parties in Uganda. The campaign is being
launched today on the occasion of President Barack Obama’s speech in Accra; we
are inspired by his seminal message, in particular on free and fair elections,
accountability, anti-corruption, anti-ethnic sectarianism, anti-nepotism, and
equitable opportunity, as indispensable components of democratic governance.
Significantly this campaign also echoes and is in line with observations and
recommendations made in 2006 by all election observers, including the European
Union, the Commonwealth, and Ugandan civil society led by the Uganda Joint
Christian Council (UJCC) and the ruling of the Supreme Court of Uganda.
2011 must inaugurate a new era for Uganda--an era of free and fair elections,
with a level playing field. Ugandans demand, deserve and will accept nothing
less. As President Barack Obama stated today, “History is on the side of these
brave Africans.”
Signed by:
Mr. Olara A. Otunnu (Interim Chairman)
Mr. James Ssemakula (Interim Deputy Chairman)
Mr. John Mayanja (Interim President)
Mr. Mubiru Musoke (Interim Treasurer)
Professor Aloysius Lugira (Interim Secretary)
For further information, contact:
Mr. Jude Mbabaali
Foundation for African Development [FAD]
P.O. Box 2326, Kampala
Tel: 041 4510 486/041 4269 562
Mobile: 0772 444 663
Email: mbabaa...@yahoo.com; f...@infocom.co.ug
Professor Aloysius Lugira
Tel: 617-552-3539 or 781-439-3875.
Email: lugira....@gmail.com; lug...@bc.edu
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