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Uganda electoral stakeholders equipped for free, transparent and non-violent election
According to the data collected by between January 2020 and March 2021 and published in the 2021 election violence monitoring report, 118,000 cases of violence were recorded in 63 districts, with a total of 580 kidnappings and 261 deaths. The highest form of violence engaged in was intimidation at 84.28% while physical attacks and verbal attacks were at 2.83% and 2.65% respectively. Notably 70% of the perpetrators of violence were state agencies comprising the police, military, and paramilitary groups. Additionally, 5.8% of people targeted were the media.
In this context, the training aimed to strengthen the capacities of electoral stakeholders on the international standards on freedom of expression and access to information and the role of social media and Artificial Intelligence in the election cycle.
Ms. Sylvia Adongo delivered UNESCO’s remarks and emphasized that freedom of expression and access to information were key pillars in the realization of free and fair elections in a democracy. In his brief about the Electoral Commission, Mr. Samuel Kiyingi, Head of Political Parties at the Commission, mentioned some of the main challenges affecting the Commission in fulfilling its mandate such as literacy rate at the village levels, limitations caused by the lack of internet and technology penetration in the country, commercialization of politics as well as violence making some areas inaccessible. The expert trainers included Dr. Sarah Namusoga and Dr. Adolf Mbaine from Makerere University and AI and cyber security expert, Dr. Michael Nagenda.
Participants were taken through the key concepts of Artificial Intelligence and its application in elections, concept of mis- and disinformation, the digital and gender divide, international human rights laws, the standards on freedom of expression and right to privacy, and the impacts of social media on the electoral process. Based on these overarching themes, they were able to ask questions and engaged in practical exercises using recent AI powered applications which enhanced learning and participation.
On the last day, the keynote address was relayed by Mr. Richard Kamugisha Baabo, Director of Operations representing the Chairperson the Electoral Commission of Uganda. He noted that the Commission was now adopting strategic communication that would ensure effective outreach through new and traditional media channels and called on all stakeholders to work together with the Commission for a peaceful and inclusive elections.
One of the most critical ingredients for citizenship empowerment is access to information which enables the citizen to make informed choices during elections.
The training was carried out based on UNESCO’s publications on Elections in Digital Times - , the , and the . UNESCO through the project Strengthening Electoral Processes in Uganda (SEPU) supported by UNDP has been addressing the findings of the 2021 election violence monitoring report and enhancing capacities of electoral stakeholders and partners to promote free and fair elections.
…this training has brought us together to build our capacities as respective organizations in order that we effectively collaborate in ensuring that information we share during elections be factual and made timely available to the citizens all over the country.
