Press statement
As Secretary General with executive responsibility for guiding the affairs of United Democratic Ugandans (UDU), an umbrella organization of opposition political parties and organizations at home and abroad, I am pleased to report to fellow Ugandans at home and abroad, friends and well wishers, that UDU ideas to effect sustainable peace, security and equitable development for present and future generations are catching on.
These ideas are enshrined in the National Recovery Plan (NRP) supplemented by subsequent pronouncements about the future of Uganda. These ideas include the following:
1. UDU has consistently called for peaceful resolution of political differences in the first instance. This idea was endorsed at The Hague conference of November 28-30, 2013 that brought together participants from home and in the diaspora;
2. UDU has advocated that Uganda belongs to all Ugandans and Uganda comes first. UDU is a forgiving organization but those who have committed mistakes and/or crimes need to come forward and tell us exactly what they did wrong.
3. UDU has called for a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to record what has happened in independent Uganda to ensure that those commissions and omissions are not repeated;
4. UDU as an innovative organization has called for a transitional government of all stakeholders including NRM to prepare a level playing field based among other things on a national population census and national convention to know how many and who we are and agree on how Ugandans want to be governed before organizing a free and fair multi-party elections underpinned by a truly independent electoral commission, a truly independent vetting commission on the basis of agreed upon criteria for presidential and parliamentary candidates and standardized campaign finding;
5. UDU has recommended that instead of one president, the transitional government should be led by a team of four people (presidential commission) one each from the four regions of Uganda;
6. UDU has recommended that those wishing to participate in the governing of Uganda must go public and spell out their philosophy and personal history in a comprehensive manner so Ugandans can take informed decision.
As Secretary General of UDU, I have had discussions with leaders of FDC, UPC and Uganda Civil Society. We have concurred on the way forward as recommended by UDU. Other patriotic individuals at home and abroad have also been consulted and support this approach.
We call on all Ugandans and other peace loving people around the world especially the government and people of the United States of America and the United Kingdom to support these noble efforts to address the wrongs in Uganda without further delay.
For God and My Country
Eric Kashambuzi
Secretary General, United Democratic Ugandans (UDU)