JUSTICE PARTY
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Cash Hurdle for Referendum on Uganda Future
A MAJOR financial obstacle stands in the path of a planned national referendum on the future of Uganda's political process, which is already plagued by months of controversy.
The Ministry of Finance has allocated Ush12.95 billion ($10 million) for the July 2000 referendum, which is less than half the Ush36 billion ($25 million) requested by the Electoral Commission. In addition, The EastAfrican learnt last week, the country's main Western financiers have declared their preference for supporting related civic education programmes to funding the referendum.
A bill paving the way for a referendum that seeks to give Ugandans an opportunity to decide between the current "Movement" system and a multiparty system was passed in parliament last Thursday under protest from multiparty proponents.
The Referendum Bill, which was greeted with jubilation by supporters of the ruling Movement, was passed in the absence of a majority of multiparty activists.
Under the present constitution, political party activity in Uganda remains suspended. Political parties by law are prohibited from opening party branches, holding annual delegates conferences or organising at grassroots level, leaving only the Movement to organise and promote its agenda.
Uganda's two main opposition parties - the Uganda People's Congress (UPC) of exiled former President Milton Obote and the Democratic Party (DP) of Dr Paul Ssemogerere - have been contesting the constitutional provision restricting political party activity in the country, arguing further that the issue of the political system is a fundamental human right that should not have to be obtained through a referendum.
Donors are taking an increasingly similar position on the funding of the forthcoming referendum. Britain and Germany say their governments will not finance the referendum but support civic education.
"We are considering supporting civic education, monitoring and other related issues but no final decision has been reached on this one," a British diplomat told The EastAfrican last week.
A German diplomat said their Foreign Office had no budgetary provision for the referendum exercise.
"We only consider the presidential and parliamentary elections," Herbert Beck of the German embassy in Kampala said.
The Danish Ambassador to Uganda, Mr Pederson Flemming, said last week that his government has not received any assurances of a "level playing field" in the referendum exercise from the Ugandan government. "There are still a lot of things to be looked at and we still need to look at the amended law," said Mr Flemming.
"We are inclined to support the process but not it its entirety."
The Electoral Commission prepared the budget long before parliament passed the Bill.
A Commission official said actual expenditure would depend on the Bill as passed by parliament.
It is expected that the Commission will need money to pay polling clerks, for production and distribution of publicity material and for the purchase of ballot materials.
The process is likely to be marred by a threatened boycott by multiparty supporters. A press release dated July 1, signed by the political party representatives in Uganda, warned of impending action.
"Given the fact that the Movement has taken the extreme position, political parties and civic organisations find themselves locked out of the referendum contest and have no option but to reject the Referendum Bill and the subsequent referendum exercise."
Multiparty advocates charge that the Referendum Bill infringes on the fundamental rights of Ugandans. "After passing the Referendum Bill, all Opposition is now effectively curtailed due to absence of legal framework.
"The fears that the pluralists have expressed all along, namely a clique in the Movement have the agenda of turning the Movement government into a permanent one-party system by locking out all legitimate opposition, have now been proved true."
Earlier, the Ugandan parliament rejected a motion seeking a constitutional amendment to the Referendum Bill. The constitutional amendment bill moved by a member of parliament, Mr Omara Atubo, sought to annul clause two and three of Article 271 in the constitution that provide for a referendum and have them replaced by presidential elections, a matter which was rejected by the House.
The debate on the referendum bill has been a contentious issue, with divergent views from a cross-section of Ugandans. Church leaders last month made their position clear by backing the referendum, putting to rest months of speculation on the position of the church on the matter.
The debate on the referendum bill and the motion seeking amendment to the constitution were a clear tussle between the advocates of multiparty democracy and the Movementists.
The defeat of the motion seeking an amendment to the constitution was led by the First Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Mr Eriya Kategaya and the National Political Commissar, Mr James Wapakhabulo.
Movement supporters also marshalled support from Justice Minister Mayanja Nkangi and the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Ms Rebecca Kadaga, to rout the motion by multiparty legislators, who included the outspoken de facto leader of the Uganda People's Congress, Mrs Cecilia Ogwal.
A Mutumba-Lule and Dan Elwana
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bwanika
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