Advocacy for non- violence for pre, during and post-election…

The project aimed at promoting non-violence during and after the 2011 general elections by mainly targeting the youth in the slums, youth brigades and the political parties. It leveraged the support of the Electoral Commission, security organs, politicians and the faith leaders.

Under this project URI conducted consultative meetings and gathered information with community leaders, youths and political leaders on the electoral related challenges in their communities, held district based dialogues sessions with key party leaders and security personnel for a violent free election period in 5 key hot spot districts, conducted a nonviolent media campaign on 3 most popular radio stations, conducted desk research  on violence in Uganda, trained security personnel and political party youths  in peace building and promotion of the rule of law at the different levels conducted live radio talk shows on electoral nonviolence.

The project therefore gave grounds to open discussions about human rights abuses by the police especially the youths helped clear some injustices that go on with impunity among the security organs. Youths were given alternatives for addressing their grievances in case such injustices occur again. There was major ice break between the security and youth groups. These two categories have always been adversaries and actually continue to be and this was a major opportunity in realizing the important roles played by each group. The project areas were Kampala, Mbale, Sembabule, Gulu, and Jinja and was supported by the Open Society Initiative for Eastern Africa (OSIEA).