Obote did not fail Uganda. Ugandans failed Obote. Get your hand on The Common
Man's Charter and you will see that uganda would have been a much better place
now without getting rid of the institutions we had. The Common Man's Charter
dealt with mental attitudes and not tribes. Maybe someday we shall regain our
lost ways.
Onegi pa Obol
Please note: forwarded message attached
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By J ALEXANDER THIER
Published: July 14, 2005
Stanford, Calif.
IRAQ is rapidly approaching a watershed moment: the unveiling of its new constitution. This event will probably be seen in retrospect as either the moment that the leaders of Iraq reconsecrated their troubled nation, or as the opening act of the country's descent into civil war. It is troubling, then, that events are proceeding with undue haste and a lack of public input, either of which might doom the process and invite a conflagration that would make the insurgency look like a garden party.
In a similar vein, events unfolding in Uganda parallel that of Iraq as it attempts to form a government of national unity. There are more serious issues that demand the actions of the Uganda Parliament more than this vain referendum exercise in which the people have no idea what is required of them. People in Acholi and other parts are living in camps and the children have known no peace. Every night they trek to the town for safety. This matter should be on the referendum but it is not even considered in parliament.
The dramatic change in the constitution for the benefit of one marks a watershed in Uganda history. This event was not reached through consensus but bribery.
Not every time a leader dreams of new ideas should the people be approached go through a referendum exercise. Such actions are very costly and do not reflect the free choice of an informed populace. Instead it could only reflect the response of the sycophants and those benefiting directly from maintaining the current status quo. Forcing a referendum down the peoples throat is the surest way of entrenching dictatorship under the guise that “the people has spoken.” We know that the ordinary people have neither the means nor the cohesion to spontaneously come together in such an important topic.
When the matter of changing the constitution was first brought to parliament, it was defeated. But Museveni would have none of that. He manipulated the parliament to have his way. Subsequent votes show that the Museveni clique won. Why did this happen? Because voting was not necessary to achieve this aim and many members simply complied with Museveni’s wish. Parliament is rubberstamp. Museveni would get what he wanted irrespective of the voting. And there were/are MPs that are considered Museveni property. These people have no way to avoid doing the Museveni jig. Everything was done in a great hurry without giving people time to build consensus and trust.
Kony has been a convenient scapegoat but what is going to happen will make Kony insurgency look like ‘a garden party.’ This is neither a threat nor a prophecy. It is merely an observed fact of life under dictatorial regimes.
Amending the constitution at the behest of those who have lost their way and overstayed in power is not going the help the country. At the time of writing or amending the constitution, each member should realize that he is only entitled to views as purport to his home or village. Irrespective of the number of people from Ankole they cannot voice the interest of people from other parts of the country. It doesn’t matter that they may have been transported to other different parts of the country for the purpose of spreading Museveni plan. As a result of the so many members of parliament coming from Museveni’s district, the hurried change of the constitution reflect the wishes of the majority Museveni followers. Acholi, Teso, Lango and West Nile or other parts of the country cannot meaningfully participate in the exercise, as their basic needs have not yet been met. Many are living in displaced camps in traumatized conditions with loss of life and lack of freedom as continuous companion. Put another way, people who are in power will always write or manipulate a constitution to further their own interest and the NRM is the worst at this game. From here, the NRM/Musevin clique will now begin terrorizing the very people who they claim are the final decider of constitution of Uganda.
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Posted by kaladima to ngomrom at 7/15/2005 07:57:00 AM
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