The Regional Grand Citizens’ Debate provided an opportunity to the citizens to discuss some of the ideas in the public domain in relation to the necessary electoral reforms. It also acted as a launch event for nationwide campaigns for reforms at the regional level. The debate featured keynote speaker who was an expert in freedom fighting, constitution and political economy. A group of panelists identified purposefully from a cream of key stakeholders (EC, political party representatives and experienced opinion makers and shapers) from the region. All the interactions were moderated and citizens present had opportunities to share and also raise questions to respective panelists. A political expert who participated in the drafting of the 1995 constitution gave a keynote address highlighting the justification behind each and every article citing the political turmoil the country had gone through since independence 1962. He also urged that the constitution of Uganda is the best policy and framework in Africa but people charged with implementing it are not doing the right things explaining why we had several amendments in the name of pleasing certain individuals at the expense of the majority Ugandans. Building trust and confidence amongst the Ugandans was the key components in the formulating of the constitution because the previous leaders had abused the systems and there was nothing strong to hold the leaders especially leaders accountability. The discussions and presentations by different stakeholders culminated into the identification of the following issues and proposed recommendations for consideration by the respective electoral related bodies in the country for the growth of democracy, governance and promoting, credible free and fair election.
Nice work Kacsoa