Election 2021: Opposition Presidential candidates sign pact
Dec 16, 2020
"On this day, we expect that political leaders will commit themselves and their organisations to an agenda of working together for peace, unity and constitutionalism in Uganda," Semogerere said.
ELECTION WATCH | OPPOSITION CANDIDATES
Five Opposition Presidential candidates have signed a declaration of principles committing to principled collaboration before, during and after next year's general elections.
The candidates are; Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine of the National Unity Platform (NUP), Norbert Mao of Democratic Party (DP), Maj Gen (rtd) Mugisha Muntu of Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), Eng Patrick Amuriat of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and Lt Gen (rtd) Henry Tumukunde, an independent.
Justice Forum (JEEMA) party and the ‘People's government' of four-time Presidential candidate, Dr Kizza Besigye also signed the pact as former DP president as Dr Paul Kawanga Semogerere looked on.
This was during a unity in diversity conference at Hotel Africana in Kampala on Wednesday.
It was convened by Dr Semogerere and attended by political, religious and cultural leaders who attended his peace award celebration on September 7.
At the celebration, these leaders designed Semogerere to ensure unity and cooperation of political players.
"On this day, we expect that political leaders will commit themselves and their organisations to an agenda of working together for peace, unity and constitutionalism in Uganda," Semogerere said.
What pact says
In the pact, the candidates, through their representatives, committed to form a transitional coalition/government of national unity inclusive of all key change-seeking candidates and political leaders.
They vowed that when the will of the people is manipulated, the common platform shall undertake, to do everything possible in a non-violent and democratic manner, to cause structural changes to restore democracy in the country.
They also committed to immediately establish a common secretariat to work towards the realisation of the principles in the declaration.
They declared collectively that their main goal is to provide Ugandans with a new political order and a government based on constitutionalism with a functioning multiparty system that will promote national unity, among other things.
They also declared to denounce the state inspired violence in Uganda and that it is possible to identify and pursue common objectives in principle without losing their individual political identities.
The National Electoral Commission set November 9 to January 12 as the campaign period for Presidential, Parliamentary and local government campaigns.
The polling day is January 14 for the president and MPs and January 20 for district chairpersons and mayors.
There are 11 candidates in the presidential race, who also include the incumbent Yoweri Museveni of the National Resistance Movement and independents Joseph Kabuleta, Fred Mwesigye, Willy Mayambala, John Katumba as well as Nancy Kalembe.