As the country gears up for the forthcoming 2026 general elections, human rights and political activists have expressed concern on the shrinking the civic education spaces.
They argue this denies Ugandans the rightful information to help them make right choices while electing leaders.
In an exclusive interview with the ugnewsline, the Executive Director, Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI) Dr. Livingstone Sewanyana expressed concern that the government clandestinely failed to renew the annual operating license for Citizens Coalition for Electoral Democracy in Uganda (CCEDU) yet it was very instrumental in carrying out extensive electoral civic education sensitization programs across the country.
This was on the sidelines of the FHRI 25th annual general meeting held at their offices in Nsambya, Makindye Division, Kampala. The event was attended by over 200 delegates.
“As members occupying the human rights spaces in the country, we do express our deep concern about the government failure to renew CCEDU operating license which act has effectively shrunk the little left electoral civic education spaces,” he added.
He stressed that due to civic education spaces and awareness campaigns, many citizens might end up making wrong choices.
Several delegates interviewed stressed that the government needs to rethink and reverse its decision by unconditionally renewing the CCEDU’s operating license such that it can resume and continue performing its constitutional mandate of sensitizing the citizens about the entire electoral process and its benefits in democratic spaces.
In his keynote address, the executive secretary National NGO bureau Steven Okello said they need to speak up so that the government can take action.
“As the National NGO Bureau, we urge FHRI and its stakeholders to continue lobbying the government to ensure that your voices are heard and appreciated given the key role CCEDU played in terms of carrying out citizen civic voter education campaigns which effectively helped voters make informed electoral decisions,” he noted.
