ELECTIONS 2021
Uganda will hold a general election in February 2021. These elections require urgent reforms in its laws before it happens.
An election year in Uganda is usually full of tragedies. The military regime in power has made elections synonymous with brutality, violence, intimidation, torture, hate propaganda and fearmongering such that the average Ugandan sincerely dread the fatigue of these elections.
Mr. Museveni does not actually depend on elections or needs one to stay in power. They only use violent and meaningless elections as a ritual to renew, validate and legitimize their dictatorship.
The irony is that Ugandans know that an event of the election alone does not define democracy. Democracy is a function of liberalism that comes with a full set of requisites rights and freedoms - a free press, liberty, freedoms of expression, association, worship and innovation and respect for human rights and rule of law. Most of these have been constrained under a tight leash by the regime. Without these rights and freedoms, the Museveni-type democracy is rightfully a total mockery.
In addition, a democratic society must have functioning democratic institutions and a supporting democratic culture of accountability, transparency, and consultation as its defining marks. In Uganda, Mr. Museveni is the defining institution of the state and the state is him. In this case, democracy precludes him or his position at the helm of the nation.
A dictatorship is not hard to identify. There is that one dominant leader who refuses to go away controls the ruling party and the country’s assets. His government controls all aspects of the state and often controls, bans or tightly monitors opposing groups and their meetings. The disregard for individual citizens' rights and the displacement of indigenous citizen's rights for loyal foreigners prevails. Mr. Museveni's use of archaic, colonial and unjust laws, policies, torture and spies to control every aspect of people's lives looms large over every mode of cultural expression - radio, cinema, newspapers, and television.
The potential showdown in a violent election makes many of Ugandans disinterested in the politics and leadership of Uganda.
Further, utterances from the military, the main constituency of the ruling dictatorship, have already pre-determined the 2021 election outcomes.
Ugandans can vie and win elections at every level except the Presidency. This position is ring-fenced for Mr. Museveni.
Somehow, The US, UK, and EU are satisfied that Uganda is a democracy. This double standard has lowered the passing grade for Uganda so low such that it has eroded the value of human rights and fundamental freedoms as a quid pro quo for their interests in the region.
In the meantime, Mr. Museveni's opponents are not having it easy. They have faced the full brutality of the militarized Police. Many are now garrisoned, their businesses disabled, and sources of income placed under strict regime's sanctions.
The consistent conduct of Uganda Police removes any pretense of impartiality as a legitimate authority over law and order. The Police are overtly disruptive - serve to constrain and humiliate opposition elements.
The story is the same as the so-called "Independent" Electoral Commission. Its ranks and rung are filled with biased cadre officers of the ruling party.
These circumstances are dire and make elections in Uganda an embarrassment. Unfortunately, the "meal card" politics within the opposition compels some to legitimize this tragicomedy by participating in it.
The most respectable thing to do is for opposition to boycott any violent and irregular elections. The first major step is for the Opposition to demand comprehensive reforms in the electoral laws.
These reforms should specify the role of the Police, the Army, and Paramilitary groups during these elections. Most importantly, the Electoral Commissioners should comprise representatives from all Parties elected to Parliament.
End.
No comments:
Post a Comment