As Uganda prepares itself for presidential, parliamentary and council elections in 2011, many political aspirants usually tend to indulge themselves in propaganda, which more than often generates violence. Rather than use their manifesto and working together to serve community interest, people resort t verbal and physical violence.
In an attempt to promote a spirit of Non-Violence and political tolerance, TIP came up with a project that is targeting political party leaders to engage them in training to instill in them a spirit of non-violence during their political campaigns. This project is targeting active political parties (NRMO, FDC, DP, and UPC) in the three districts of Soroti, Amuria and Katakwi. After the training, political part executives of the four parties came up with strategies to promote Non-Violent politics. They have therefore embarked on a campaign for Non-Violent politics in the region, through radio talk shows. They cited “Verbal Violence” as the worst form of Violence which most politicians are always involved in. During the talk shows, they called upon all the people who are engaged in politics to focus on issues of development in their political campaign manifesto, rather than pointing fingers at individuals, which may divide the communities.
These campaigns have also beefed up the work of the Electoral Commission, as political party executives have taken initiative to carry out civic education for their electorates at the grassroots. This is inclusive of sensitization on the election process, moral conducts before, during and after elections, and encouraging all adults to up-date or register for voting as the only way of exercising their power of choosing their leaders.
The party executives have recommended to TIP to role this kind of training of Non-Violence to Sub-County levels and consequently the grass root communities will be sensitized on their citizen manifesto.
Teso Initiative for Peace 