Youth platform urges Ugandans to turn out and vote

The Interparty Youth Platform (IYOP) has urged Ugandans to turn out in big number to exercise their constitutional right and cast their votes for leaders of their choice at the municipal and division level.

The elections for the chairpersons and councilors of municipalities across the country as well as the Kampala City divisions are scheduled to take place on Wednesday, painting a picture of likely low turn up.

Shaban Kalema, chairman IYOP urged Ugandans in general and the youth in particular to turn up for the local council IV, III and all the subsequent elections that will come along.

"We remind our fellow young people that in politics decisions are always made by those who turn up and participate in democratic processes like voting and so we implore you to be part of those that will make the decision for our country as we frame the destiny of Uganda," Kalema said.

This comes after the recently concluded district LC V and Kampala lord mayor elections which registered a low turnout.

The youth made the call during a press conference organised to promote peace and calm during the elections, held in Kampala on Tuesday.

The youth platform urged the general public to duplicate the turnout during the just concluded presidential and parliamentary election so as to write history.

The platform brings together eight parties in the country including Conservative Party (CP), Democratic Party (DP), Justice Forum (JEEMA), Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), National Resistance Movement (NRM), Uganda Federal Alliance (UFA), People Progressive Party (PPP) and Uganda People's Congress (UPC).

IYOP's primary objective is to promote reconciliation in order to promote unity.

Kalema also reminded the public and the youth in particular to keep calm after the elections, calling for reconciliation and unity.

"We as youth leaders have noted discontent in a section of players who participated in the presidential and parliamentary elections" Kalema said.

"As a platform, we believe that youth will win nothing as a generation if we choose the path of violence, and therefore we call upon the young people to desist from any acts that lead to violence, loss of life and property," he added.

Kalema also advised parties and individuals who are not satisfied with the outcome of the elections to seek legal redress in court.

The youth also noted with concern the arbitrary arrest and detention of youth without arraigning them in the courts of law.

"IYOP calls upon the police boss to expeditiously have those young people being detained and held for yet to be known reasons be released or arraigned before court and charged accordingly," the youth demanded.