2021 presidential debate dates set after donors offered funds

The Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU) has announced dates for the 2021 presidential election after securing funds from donors.

IRCU will closely collaborate with The Elders Forum Uganda (Tefu), Citizens Coalition for Electoral Democracy (Ccedu), Women Situation Room (Wosir), Inter Party Organization for Dialogue (Ipod) and Uganda Women’s Network (Uwonet) to organize the debate.

In the previous election, two presidential debates happened.

Incumbent President Yoweri Museveni had initially been reluctant to join the debates, calling them ‘talking competitions’ for school children.

But he later took part in the second one and shook hands with his main challenger and ex-bush war personal physician Dr Kizza Besigye after many years.

In this year’s debate, set to happen on December 12 and on a January 2021 date yet to be communicated, Museveni will be facing off with neither Besigye nor former powerful prime minister Amama Mbabazi.

Yet he won’t be short of challengers. His former bush war colleagues will be on the podium in a battle of ideas.

They are former army commander Maj Gen (Rtd) Gregg Mugisha Muntu of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) and former security minister Lt Gen (Rtd) Henry Kakurugu Tumukunde, an independent candidate.

Instead of Besigye, Museveni will face Patrick Oboi Amuriat of main opposition political party Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).

Other candidates include city pastor Joseph Kabuleta and Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine of the National Unity Platform (NUP).

The IRCU and partner organisations have already secured Shs1.5bn from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for the two debates.

Nominations for presidential aspirants will happen on November 02 and 03 in Kampala, before a campaign road map and polling date are announced.