By Our Reporters
After languishing in total oblivion for many months, former EC vice chairman Joseph Biribonwa finally has reason to smile after president Museveni remembered him and gave him a juicy assignment. From today on, the rich man from Bunyoro will be chairing an organization called National Initiative for Civic Education in Uganda (NICE-Uganda). Launched by the President in Munyonyo Tuesday morning, NICE-UG is an effort by Museveni to galvanize efforts by the UN, Government of Uganda and Civil Society Organization actors to support efforts aimed at ensuring the people of Uganda are given adequate voter education ahead of 2021 general elections. In a rare show of commitment to voter education, Museveni did not stop at being vision bearer for the NICE-UG initiative but went as far as appointing a team of eminent persons to give the pioneer leadership to the organization. The leaders as appointed and inaugurated by the President include Biribonwa who will chair an executive board of directors with members like Makerere’s Barbara Katende and UHRC chairperson Med Kaggwa. Crispin Kaheru, the very influential coordinator for CCEDU, will serve as the secretary for the organization. Equally powerful Rosa Malango who is the UN Resident Coordinator will serve as the patron for the new organization. To ensure checks and balances, there will be an advisory board with representation from GoU, CSOs, Cultural Institutions and the private sector. According to Kaheru, NICE-UG leadership will commence activities by having engagement meetings with stakeholders like musicians, business community, FBOs, academia, media, government MDAs, political parties and the electoral commission itself. Kaheru said emphasis will be put on reaching everybody to ensure that formal and informal significantly contribute to civic education ahead of 2021 general elections. The new organization has a fully-fledged secretariat based along Yusuf Lule road in Kampala. For comments, call, text or whatsapp 0703164755.
