Inter-religious council set to organize 2020/21 presidential debate

The inter-religious council of Uganda is set to organize another presidential debate that will see various presidential aspirants showdown to articulate their policy differences before the voters. The council has revealed that the debate will be hosted on a date that will be communicated later.

 

The inter-religious council who organized the 2016 presidential debate say this time, aspiring members of parliament will also be incorporated into the debate.

 

Uganda held its first ever televised presidential debate on the night of 15 January, 2016 for the eight Presidential candidates who were in the race to eloquent issues of national interest. However, President Museveni who was one of the presidential candidates didn’t attend for he was preoccupied with state duties. The other candidates who were; Hon Amama Mbabazi (Go Forward); Dr Kizza Besigye (Forum for Democratic Change); and Dr Abed Bwanika (People's Development Party) Mr Joseph Mabirizi, Ms Maureen Kyalya Waluube, Professor Venansius Baryamureeba and Maj. Gen Benon Biraro did attend making the event successful.

 

The second debate was held in February 2016 and all the candidates managed to attend including President Museveni who had missed the first debate.

Renown Ugandan journalists, Alan Kasujja and Nancy Kacungira moderate the debate, supported by a team of research experts to ensure quality control of content.

 

Crispy Kaheru, the then coordinator for the Citizens Coalition for Electoral Democracy Uganda (CCEDU) attended the debates and said it showed an important shift in how citizens were encouraging political dialogue in Uganda.

According to analysts, the 2021 Presidential debate is going to be a heated one. As of to date, over 80 people have expressed interest in the presidential seat.