Akim Odong
Federal system is not a political party, it is amazing if you realize that
even if Uganda become a federal state it will still run political issues
through political party system than Federal system. How far have you gone in
developing political party structures in Uganda? Or they too will be
developed by Federalism?
What a cruel joke !!!!
EM
On the 49th Parallel
Thé Mulindwas Communication Group
"With Yoweri Museveni and Dr. Kiiza Besigye Uganda is in anarchy"
Kuungana Mulindwa Mawasiliano Kikundi
"Pamoja na Yoweri Museveni na Dk. Kiiza Besigye Uganda ni katika machafuko"
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of akim odong
Sent: Sunday, March 02, 2014 5:01 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: {UAH} What we have learned from the Swiss federal experience
Dr Kashambuzi;
Thank you very much for that piece of history. Federalism indeed, is on the
increase globally, simply because, the unitary system is not natural to
human kind, it has to be imposed by coercion or use of force for it succeed.
Not in these day and age.
Lets keep the struggle alive, Uganda is not looking backward but
federalward.
Akim
On Sun, Mar 2, 2014 at 8:38 PM, Eric Kashambuzi <[email protected]>
wrote:
As we prepare to replace the failed NRM government that has rejected
federalism, Ugandans have been discussing the benefits of federalism by
examining theory and practice. We have examined the experiences in the
United Kingdom, Belgium and Indonesia.
The purpose of the debate is to see what is suitable for Uganda because
federalism comes in many varieties and contexts. What is pleasantly clear is
that federalism is increasing. As of 2008, there were 28 federal states
five of them from Africa. What does the Swiss federalism tell us?
In 1291 three cantons (a canton is a state of the Swiss confederation)
formed a league a kind of constitution initially for defense purposes.
The three cantons were regarded as a unit. Between 1332 and 1352 four
cantons were added to that unit. It was controlled by a federal diet
(legislative assembly) while retaining much autonomy for the cantons.
Political and security considerations drew the cantons closer together.
By the 16th century, the confederation was still very loose but the number
of cantons had increased to thirteen. Each canton sent two representatives
to the federal diet. Through diplomatic efforts the 1648 Treaty of
Westphalia that ended the thirty years war recognized Swiss independence.
Swiss neutrality during the war attracted many refugees. However, neutrality
required a strong army that strengthened canton bonds. Because of this
migration, Swiss society is characterized by diversity divided broadly by
religion and geography as in Uganda.
The Swiss loose confederation accorded each canton a large measure of
autonomy including choosing its form of government. The 1655 proposals to
establish a more centralized state were rejected. During the 1797/98
session, the diet renewed the oath to maintain Swiss unity and autonomy
within Europe.
In 1815, the Congress of Vienna established the principle of perpetual Swiss
neutrality following which a constitutional convention drew up a new federal
pact, establishing a diet with restricted powers and required a vote of
two-thirds of the cantons to ratify any act by the diet. The new
arrangements consolidated the autonomy of cantons within the Swiss
confederation.
In 1848, the new Swiss constitution which was modeled on that of the United
States of America replaced the 1815 pact, recognizing Switzerland as a
federal union. The new constitution preserved the local government of
cantons. The federal legislative authority resided in two chambers: the
Council of State with two members from each canton and the National Council
members of which were elected in numbers proportional to the population size
of each canton. The executive branch of government was a Federal Council
made up of seven members elected by the two legislative chambers. The
Councils chairperson for one year was given the title of president of the
confederation without enjoying more powers than the colleagues.
In economic matters, the Swiss federal government sought to standardize the
currency, weights and measures, expand and regulate postal and communication
services, encourage technological development. However, greater federal
economic control was constrained because cantons retained significant
autonomy underpinned by their respective constitutions.
In 1874, a new constitution gave more powers to the federal government to
reorganize the federal militia. It introduced a system of referendum and
initiative that gave the Swiss people to vote on legislation. For example,
in 1953, the voters rejected the constitutional amendment for a federal
direct tax. The constitution provided compulsory education for boys and
girls and freedom of religion. The 1892 constitution extended civil rights.
Between 1890 and 1898 the federal government was empowered to enact social
insurance, purchase privately owned railways and unify and enforce civil and
penal codes.
Between 1970 and 1985 immigration restrictions were enacted limiting the
number of foreign workers. The rules governing political asylum were also
revised requiring refugees to prove they were not economic migrants. In
1999, a national referendum restricted further the influx of refugees.
What we have learned is that Swiss federalism has been a gradual process
principally to retain and protect wide powers for the cantons. The Federal
Council is run by a team, not one person as in Uganda. The federalism that
UDU has been recommending is basically in line with the Swiss experience.
Eric Kashambuzi
Secretary General, UDU
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