The opposition pressure group; the Democratic Alliance (DA), has advised fellow opposition players to focus on pushing for electoral reforms before preparing for the forthcoming general elections of 2026.

The DA has fronted six points to be considered for a better political landscape before, during and after elections including passing of electoral reforms, reinstatement of presidential term and age limits, mechanisms that guarantee peaceful transfer of power, implementation of a nation reconciliation plan, removing security personnel from electoral processes among others.

The Alliance National Coordinator, Mathias Mpuuga told the media on Friday at Namirembe in Kampala that Uganda’s history of elections is not good hence the need to prepare for the coming elections with caution to avoid a recurrence of the previous problems.

Mpuuga adds that it’s time all opposition players come together and dialogue on how to work on critical issues to ensure running of free and fair elections than preparing for elections which can’t be fruitful after all it’s been the same since the 1980 disputed elections.

He has disclosed that DA has started sending letters to all political leaders in the country requesting them to join the long awaited cause for meaningful political change in the country.

Meanwhile, Mpuuga also lashed out at President Yoweri Museveni over his directive to the Uganda Police Force to stop giving police bond to petty criminals, saying it is abetting insecurity in the country.

President Museveni said this in his televised New Year’s address to the nation, that he had asked the Judiciary through the Chief Justice to stop granting bail to suspected criminals on trial for capital offences.

Mpuuga said that to deny people a right to police bond or court bail is against their rights which are enshrined in the constitution.

He has challenged President Museveni to instead deploy more judges and state persecutors such that they quicken the court processes.

By Charles Katabalwa

3 Jan 2025

END