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FINDINGS: John-Jean Barya
By Edris Kisambira
A combination of the Kizza Besigye presidential election petition, the 2001 election results, and the referendum turnout indicate that the Movement system is no longer popular, says a country report that looked at the progress Uganda has made towards democratic governance over the years.
The report, by Makerere University lecturers on behalf of the Centre for Basic Research (CBR), said that, although the president won with 69% of the vote, Kizza Besigye�s petition exposed election malpractices which, �undermined the principles of a free and fair election.�
�This means that a combination of this decision, the 2001 election results, the referendum turnout, and our own survey, indicates that the system is no longer as popular as it was in the past, and is probably supported by a small majority.�
Of the 2,128 people who were interviewed in the general public, 53.5% think the system is competitive while 40.4% say it is not.
Of the 75 experts interviewed, the report says most said that the system is not competitive but is constituted as a one-party state.
The report said that while the NRM/Movement was initially inclusive and supposed to be a temporary arrangement, it has now been constitutionalised.
It added that Movement system needs to undergo a review and reconsideration as a vehicle for democratisation.
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, who opened the half-day meeting that was called to review the findings of the report, said that the Judiciary, Legislature and the Executive have attempted to work together in harmony since the 1995 Constitution came into force.
The report is titled �Monitoring progress towards democratic governance: the Uganda country report�.
John-Jean Barya, an associate professor of law, and Simon Rutabajuka, presented the report before the review participants, who included MPs, academicians, and civil society leaders.
The report�s findings on the Judiciary, which faces an imminent probe, show that the ins
titution is fairly free from corruption.
Barya said that comparing findings to a recent survey on judicial integrity, the corrupt elements in the court system were court clerks and some lower magistrates, �not the judges as such.�
Ends
Published on: Sunday, 8th December, 2002 |
