ELECTION MONITORING
Uganda's electoral process has since 1991 remained a highly contested sector of governance. For example in the June 2001 parliamentary elections, more than 50 percent of those elected were new legislators; however, Movement supporters remained in control of the legislative branch.
Observers believed that the 2001 presidential and parliamentary elections generally reflected the will of the population; however, both were marred by serious irregularities, particularly in the period leading up to the elections, such as restrictions on political party activities, incidents of violence, voter intimidation, and fraud.
A 2000 national referendum on the role of political parties formally extended the Movement form of government indefinitely and severely restricted political activities. Incidents of violence, voter intimidation, and fraud were noticed in the 2006 presidential and parliamentary elections
EFFECTS OF CORRUPTION IN UGANDA
In Uganda, corruption has created negative impact on the Protection of Civil and Political Rights. Civil and political rights can only flourish in Uganda, only if the Rule of Law is observed, the independence of the judiciary is guaranteed and the national human rights institutions are effective
Corruption poses a serious development challenge in Uganda. In the political realm, it has seriously undermined democracy and good governance. Corruption in elections and in legislative bodies has reduced accountability and representation in policymaking; corruption in the judiciary has suspended the rule of law; and corruption in public administration has resulted in the unequal provision of services.
It has also created negative effects on Economic & Social Rights as well as the rights to education, health, adequate standard of living (including decent shelter, clean water, adequate food and clothing), social security, employment, just and favourable conditions of work, etc have been denied.
Corruption in Uganda has had devastating effects on governance and the electoral Process. Corruption undermines fair-play, justice and equal opportunities, equity and non-discrimination, which are underlying principles of human rights.
Corruption has also undermined economic development by increasing the cost of business through the price of bribes themselves, the management cost of negotiating with officials, and the risk of breached agreements or detection.
In Uganda, corruption has generated economic distortions in the public sector by pulling public investment away from education and into projects where bribes and kickbacks are more plentiful. Corruption has lowered compliance with construction, environmental, or other regulations; reduced the quality of government services; and increased budgetary pressures on government. Corruption undermines fair-play, justice and equal opportunities, equity and non-discrimination, which are underlying principles of human rights.
Corruption problem in Uganda can be addressed through nine action areas
- Law reform
- Public sector pay reform
- Adequate resourcing of anti-corruption agencies
- Commissions of inquiry
- Combating a culture of impunity
- Strengthening the accountability regime
- Court awards and compensation claims
- Addressing corruption in local government
- Semi-annual anti-corruption reviews.
WHY THERE IS NEED TO PROMOTE AND PROTECT HUMAN RIGHTS IN UGANDAUganda's human rights record deteriorated after Idi Amin seized power in 1971. To date Uganda continues to experience difficulty in advancing respect for human rights in matters concerning torture, child labor, and liberties. Uganda has suffered massive abuse of human rights. Many innocents Ugandans have lost their lives, been harassed, detained without trial, tortured or discriminated against, displaced or forced into exile.
CONFLICT IN THE NORTHThe conflict in the north of the country between the Ugandan People's Defense Force (UPDF) and the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) has decimated the economy, retarded the development of affected areas and led to numerous gross human rights violations. Since Yoweri Museveni became president in 1986, more than 1.2 million Ugandans have been displaced and tens of thousands have been killed. An estimated 20,000 children have been kidnapped by the LRA for use as child soldiers and slaves since 1987.
TORTURETorture and illegal detention of suspects are common in Uganda. Methods of torture include suspending suspects tying hands and feet behind the victim from the ceiling, severe beating and kicking, and attaching electric wires to the male genitals.
POLITICAL FREEDOMThe arrest of the opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye upon return from exile in South Africa demonstrated the extent to which Ugandans enjoy their freedom. In April 2005, two opposition Member of Parliament were arrested on what are believed to be politically motivated charges. Ronald Reagan Okumu and Michael Nyeko Ocula are from the Forum for Democratic Change, that has posed the greatest challenge to the ruling National Resistance Movement
FREEDOM OF THE PRESSAs in many African countries, government agencies continue to impinge on the freedom of the press in Uganda. In late 2002, the independent Monitor newspaper was temporarily closed by the army and police. Journalists from the paper continued to come under attack in 2004, two of whom were publicly denounced as "rebel collaborators" by a spokesman for the UPDF. NAFODU will continue to work towards promoting International Human Rights Instruments like International Human Rights Instruments Universal Declaration of Human Rights International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and others
THE NEED FOR STRENGTHENING THE MULTIPARTY POLITICAL SYSTEM IN UGANDAIn February 2006, Ugandans went to the polls to vote in Uganda's first multiparty-elections in 26 years. The multiparty Political System is a relatively new concept to many Ugandans who did not witness the military dictatorship of Idi Amin (1971-1979 and Obote era 1980-1985. Despite a few positive political developments in Uganda, political parties and the party system in Uganda still remain relatively undeveloped. Five major challenges have been identified related to the reform of political parties:
- Lack of internal democratization
- Inadequate grassroots participation
- New leadership
- Transparency and accountability
Through its multiparty strengthening program, NAFODU offers political parties the opportunity to strengthen their commitment to good governance, internal democratization, and civic outreach. It also affords participants the opportunity to share best practices in the consolidation of democratic institutions and find allies in the party renewal process. NAFODU works with Ugandan parties to help them identify the factors that impede their democratic development, and the concrete solutions needed to overcome challenges
POLITICAL VIOLENCE AND DISPUTES
All Ugandan political parties must call on their supporters to refrain from violence in order to have a successful transition to multiparty politics. The political parties have a duty to prevent violence. An electoral process is an alternative to violence as it is a means of achieving governance. It is when an electoral process is perceived as unfair, unresponsive, or corrupt, that its political legitimacy is compromised and stakeholders are motivated to go outside the established norms to achieve their objectives. Electoral conflict and violence become tactics in political competition. NAFODU will continue to provide alternative means of resolving political conflicts. NAFODU has national and District training teams in conflict resolution and management who have been instrumental as trainers.
POLITICAL PARTICIPATION AND DEMOCRACY.
What do you think is all about democracy?
Its all about providing stability and ensuring people's views are put into consideration.To provide stability, power has to be institutionalised. People come to obey leaders not because they are stronger than they are but because these leaders' right to rule is widely recognised, for example in some societies at particular times a hereditary monarch has been seen as having the right to exercise power. A king such as Kabaka was accepted as the legitimate king. Legitimacy means more than being in accordance with the laws of the country.To say a ruler is legitimate means that he has a recognised right to rule.
Citizens elect their leaders usually through the agency of a political party, and these leaders are to hold power for a specified limited period of time before election is held to determine whether or not they should continue in office. Unfortunately in African countries particulary Uganda, Zimbabwe when a term of Office is over some leaders cling to throne of power and they deliberately force force election or bribe people in addition to threatening them when it comes to the time of voting. Democracy should mean 'rule by the people' practically not by the whole people, {for unanimity is rare} but a majority of people. But democracy as understood in western states means much more than 'majority rule'. It tampers the notion of the majorityrule with the idea of idea freedom. in particular, democracies seek to protect their citizens from misuse of power by their governors. A government representing a majority could rule arbitrarily and tyrannicaly, unless there were constraints on government by its citizens. In otherword its the masses to determine the constitution, these citizens should be the ones to turn into masters of thier rulers because they are the ones who give them authority.
There are few hereditary monarchs exercising real power left in the world.In westren countries even where the form of monarchy survives as in Britain and Netherlands, others exercise political power.What usually confers the right to rule in such countries is election by people. Citizens elect their leaders, usually through the agency of a political party, and these leaders hold power for a limited period of time before a further election is held tto determine whether or not a particular leader should continue in office.In such a state the governors are accountable at periodic elections, to the governed.
At NAFODU we ensure training of the local people to create in awareness because they dont participate in election monitoring, then it means malpractices would be the order of the day. With time, given chance the Civil society organisations will ensure the local people get access to the voters registers so that overcome this scandal of ghost voters.A democratic constitution confers the right ' you can call it the obligation' on citizens to participate in the Nations affairs, through voting, membership of political parties through membership of pressure groups such as trade unions through meetings and demonstrations.
Broadly speaking the more such activity is diffussed amongst citizens, the more democratic rule and the rights of the individual will be safeguarded. The phrase' broadly speaking' is used because there can be circumstances in active participation is limited.
