Minister for Africa welcomes peaceful conduct of elections in Uganda
Minister for Africa Henry Bellingham has spoken following Presidential and Parliamentary elections in Uganda on 18 February.
Minister for Africa Henry Bellingham said:
“I welcome the largely peaceful conduct of Uganda’s Presidential and Parliamentary elections on 18 February.
“I welcome the preliminary statement of the EU Electoral Observation Mission and the interim statement of the Commonwealth Observer Group. Both highlight some improvements in the overall conduct and transparency of the elections but they also draw attention to avoidable shortcomings in their organisation. I also endorse their observations on the exercise of the power of incumbency and the need for further progress to create a level playing field for elections.
“I urge all parties to continue to reject violence and to pursue any challenges to the results of the elections through peaceful constitutional means. I encourage all those elected and all Uganda’s political stakeholders, including Uganda’s Government, political parties and the Electoral Commission to reflect on the assessments of the independent observers, build on positive developments, and address the shortcomings identified in order to strengthen pluralistic, multi-party democracy in Uganda.”