UGANDA: UEC Chairman calls on the media to be proactive to ensure peaceful 2016 general elections
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| Most Rev. John Baptist Odama (right) during the AGM meeting |
With exactly
21 days left to the 2016 Uganda General Elections, the Chairman of the Uganda
Episcopal Conference (UEC) and the Archbishop of Gulu Archdiocese, Most Rev.
John Baptist Odama has urged the media to be proactive in addressing the issue
of violence and ensuring peaceful elections on February 18 this year.
21 days left to the 2016 Uganda General Elections, the Chairman of the Uganda
Episcopal Conference (UEC) and the Archbishop of Gulu Archdiocese, Most Rev.
John Baptist Odama has urged the media to be proactive in addressing the issue
of violence and ensuring peaceful elections on February 18 this year.
Archbishop
Odama made these remarks at the Uganda Catholic Secretariat premises in Kampala
on Wednesday 27th January 2016, during the Second Annual General
Meeting (AGM) of the Association of Catholic Communication Practitioners in
Uganda (ACCPU) that was attended by journalists from various media houses in
Uganda.
Odama made these remarks at the Uganda Catholic Secretariat premises in Kampala
on Wednesday 27th January 2016, during the Second Annual General
Meeting (AGM) of the Association of Catholic Communication Practitioners in
Uganda (ACCPU) that was attended by journalists from various media houses in
Uganda.
“We are in a
very important state now in this country and you have more knowledge than me,
but I have my concerns so that we can work together. I have no idea how the
election will be. Will it be free and fair? Will it be peaceful? Nobody knows,
but I’ am concerned about the state of this country because I wouldn’t like the
country to be destabilized anymore because of the elections,” Archbishop Odama
said.
very important state now in this country and you have more knowledge than me,
but I have my concerns so that we can work together. I have no idea how the
election will be. Will it be free and fair? Will it be peaceful? Nobody knows,
but I’ am concerned about the state of this country because I wouldn’t like the
country to be destabilized anymore because of the elections,” Archbishop Odama
said.
He said that
the Catholic Bishops of Uganda will collaborate with the media in the endeavor
to promote democracy and peace-building, and will make use of their Pastoral Letter
(which was released in August last year)
as the guiding principles for the 2016 general elections,. The Pastoral Letter
is entitled, “Free and Fair Elections: Our Common Mission to Consolidate
Democratic Gains in Uganda.”
the Catholic Bishops of Uganda will collaborate with the media in the endeavor
to promote democracy and peace-building, and will make use of their Pastoral Letter
(which was released in August last year)
as the guiding principles for the 2016 general elections,. The Pastoral Letter
is entitled, “Free and Fair Elections: Our Common Mission to Consolidate
Democratic Gains in Uganda.”
Through the
watchdog role, he said the local media should protect the public interest and
encourage free, fair and peaceful conduct of the elections to achieve the
long-term goal of democratic consolidation and human development.
watchdog role, he said the local media should protect the public interest and
encourage free, fair and peaceful conduct of the elections to achieve the
long-term goal of democratic consolidation and human development.
“We had a
terrible situation in the northern region for over 20 years and on that part I
am so sensitive about the future of this country. If there is anybody who is a
great patriot, I would be number two. Unless we are firm on what we want Uganda
to be before, during and after the elections, we are likely to see some
violence,” Archbishop Odama explained.
terrible situation in the northern region for over 20 years and on that part I
am so sensitive about the future of this country. If there is anybody who is a
great patriot, I would be number two. Unless we are firm on what we want Uganda
to be before, during and after the elections, we are likely to see some
violence,” Archbishop Odama explained.
He added,“I
think we should be proactive on this important matter because many people
listen to the media. We love our country so let us be proactive in addressing
the issue of violence.”
think we should be proactive on this important matter because many people
listen to the media. We love our country so let us be proactive in addressing
the issue of violence.”
The
Archbishop further stated that he has begun holding talks in his Archdiocese
about the consequences of instigating violence before, during and after
elections, and he encouraged the journalists to do the same.
Archbishop further stated that he has begun holding talks in his Archdiocese
about the consequences of instigating violence before, during and after
elections, and he encouraged the journalists to do the same.
“I have been
talking to the people in my Archdiocese from the urban areas to the villages and
I
talking to the people in my Archdiocese from the urban areas to the villages and
I
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| Participants |
have told them to go to their communities and pass the same message of peace.
Whoever causes violence from the national to the grassroots level should be held
accountable for any loss of lives, for any injuries or for any destruction. I
am very clear on this issue and I am going to continue doing so to avoid
violence,” he emphasized.
He quoted a
line from Chinua Achebe’s book, ‘Things Fall Apart,’ about the mosquito which
always disturbed the ear with noise to remind it that it was still alive,
following the ear’s mockery of the mosquito that it was too weak to live long
enough for marriage. He urged the journalists to emulate the mosquito’s style
to be proactive and persistent in advocating for peace during this period.
line from Chinua Achebe’s book, ‘Things Fall Apart,’ about the mosquito which
always disturbed the ear with noise to remind it that it was still alive,
following the ear’s mockery of the mosquito that it was too weak to live long
enough for marriage. He urged the journalists to emulate the mosquito’s style
to be proactive and persistent in advocating for peace during this period.
Archbishop
Odama applauded the ACCPU members for forming the association and for their active
participation in making the visit of the Pope to Uganda a great success.
Odama applauded the ACCPU members for forming the association and for their active
participation in making the visit of the Pope to Uganda a great success.
“It is our
hope that the members of this association, who have met at the very important
juncture, will contribute towards a free, fair and peaceful elections,” he
concluded.
hope that the members of this association, who have met at the very important
juncture, will contribute towards a free, fair and peaceful elections,” he
concluded.
The AGM also
attracted the UEC Secretary General, Msgr. John Baptist Kauta and the UEC
Executive Secretary of the Social Communications Department, Rev. Fr. Philip
Odii who was re-elected as an ex-officio member.
attracted the UEC Secretary General, Msgr. John Baptist Kauta and the UEC
Executive Secretary of the Social Communications Department, Rev. Fr. Philip
Odii who was re-elected as an ex-officio member.
By Jacinta W. Odongo; Media Officer, Uganda
Episcopal Conference
Episcopal Conference
