UPC pledges to follow SOPs during political campaigns

Nov 05, 2020

2012 ELECTIONS | COVID-19 |

The Uganda People's Congress (UPC) has pledged to follow the Ministry of Health and Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) directives on COVID-19 as they carry out their political campaigns.

The party spokesperson Faisal Muzeyi said they have reached out to all their candidates cautioning them not to risk the lives of their supporters by holding uncontrolled political rallies.

Muzeyi said as the country gets closer to the 2021 polls for presidential, parliamentary, and local council elections, there is a need to ensure a peaceful environment by all stakeholders throughout the campaigns and elections amidst the COVID- 19 pandemic.

"UPC calls upon candidates at all levels of elective positions across the political divide to cooperate with all stakeholders as they deliver their message to the electorates during campaigns, so that we do not put the lives of the people we want to represent at risk," he said.

He added that observing the guidelines from the authorities will ensure people's well-being in their respective communities as well as good service delivery hence the development of the country.

Muzeyi made the remarks during the part's weekly press briefing at Uganda House in Kampala on Wednesday.

The call comes after the IEC finished the nomination processes of various candidates including presidential candidates on November 3, 2020.

UPC noted that the 2021 election process is totally a new form with nominations, campaigns, and polling being scientifically carried out due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to IEC guidelines, campaigns will be done on radios, televisions and other media platforms with some small meetings of not more than 70 people.

"We make an appeal to the IEC to ensure that Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) and its  radio or TV stations, among other things come up with a program that shall offer equal access and opportunities to various political party flag bearers and independent candidates to campaign freely," Muzeyi added.

He recalled the December 1980 polls, where he said Uganda Television (UTV), the current UBC and Radio Uganda did a tremendous job to cover all the four political parties in the race equally, which he said resulted in free and fair elections.

The political parties then included UPC, Democratic Party, Uganda Patriotic Movement, and Conservative Party.

The party also called on the IEC to rethink the guideline of having only 70 people at a political meeting, saying this number should not be static but based on the size of the venue.

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