ANOTHER PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE WILL ENCOURAGE POLITICAL DIALOGUE IN THE 2020-2021 ELECTION CYCLE.

On 15^th January 2016, The Elders Forum of Uganda (TEFU) and the Inter Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU) gave Uganda the first ever Presidential debate ahead of the 18^th February General Elections 2016. The debate highlighted key National issues and laid foundation for post-election dialogue which was realized in the Uganda National Dialogue Process.

The debate offered a platform for candidates to articulate their vision for the country and to interrogate one another on their respective plans for the future. This helped the public to understand, question the critical pillars of the respective electoral manifestos of the candidate and fill in the gaps that cannot be filled in the drama and hype of the ordinary rallies which are given to the public.

In his poem, “The debate is the thing”, Justice Ogoola highlighted the heart and soul of the need for debate; “ Here the nobler ideas and ideals of the mind take pride or place to titillate the political soul of the electorate, on the campaign trail candidates stand on the shifting stands of populism, at the debate the candidates stand on the solid platform of fundamental ideals and critical ideas. With firm figures and facts to wow the audience with wit and humor to charm the electorate, the debate soothes the politics of rancor, binds the wounds of the mundane. Truly the debate is the thing.”

In those words, Justice Ogoola brought forth the life of debate and the need to provide the electorate a chance to critically analyse the presidential aspirants. It brought a new perspective on the importance of issues that matter in our community, electoral campaign issues like election violence and fear mongering. The debate was a new tool of politics which revealed that we can practice politics with decorum and respect for all.

Ahead of the 2021 general elections, the urgency and agency of debate as a tool for better political dialogue and to restore civility in the election cycle becomes viable. The debates will help Ugandans have a national conversation and a chance for the presidential candidates to present their vision for the country in a civil and level headed way.

It brought critical questioning to the issues that have been characteristic of the NRM governance, like NRM’s alleged history of election rigging, political persecution, stifling of the media, arbitrary killings, and corruption, most of which continue to exist in government. 

In the face of changed legislation to scrap the age-limit in 2018, increased stifling of dissent and a closing space for civic engagement that has been witnessed in the FDC and Mr Robert Kyagulanyi’s desire to carry out consultations ahead of the electoral campaigns creates need for political dialogue inter alias a presidential debate that will provide a  chance for the electorate to shape its choice in voting and provide a probability for critical analysis of the candidates manifestos and vision for Uganda.

The Presidential debate will also feed into the vision for National dialogue which has been central to the conversations Ugandans have been having in the informal consultations and pilot dialogue exercises of the Uganda National Dialogue Process that was spearheaded by The Elders Forum of Uganda(TEFU), Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU) , National Consultative Forum(NCF), The Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD), Citizens’ Coalition for Electoral Democracy in Uganda (CCEDU) Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET) and Women Situation Room (WSR) who make up the Uganda National Dialogue Coordinating Team.

 In the effort to create social cohesion and consolidation of peace, a safe space for debate and dialogue is an inevitable necessity for the electoral process before us. The debate will provide an avenue for democracy to thrive ahead of the 2021 general elections, it will afford a chance for candidates to prepare better visionary manifestos and road maps for their service to the people of Uganda. It is a chance for accountability from the leaders against their manifestos presented in the 2016 campaigns and presidential debate.

The debate promises civic engagement and participation for Ugandans in the electoral cycle— a catalyst for upholding democracy and governance issues of Uganda. Ugandans have the responsibility of choosing leaders who aspires towards the Uganda they want. A constant provision of spaces for dialogue goes a long way in building pillars for engagement, critical analysis of issues at hand and ultimately a solidification of democracy in Uganda.

The debate is the thing and will be the thing that shapes and changes the direction of the electoral campaigns and the 2021 general elections.

ELECTORAL REFORMS WILL BE A SAFETY CAP AHEAD OF THE 2021 GENERAL ELECTIONS

The removal of the term limits in 2005 and the Age limit in 2017 left a gap in the

delivery of a free, fair and transparent electoral process in Uganda. Consequently,

the passing of the electoral reforms would help shape legislation needed during the

electoral cycle ahead of the 2021 general elections.

It should be noted that while some clauses of the proposed bills are prejudiced

towards particular individuals and towards stifling transparency during the elections,

the urgency of the reforms is one greatly felt in the electorate.

On 7th January 2020, Civil Society Organizations re-echoed the need for electoral

Reforms ahead of the 2021 general elections. The electoral reforms where presented

to parliament on June 29th, 2019 and civil society shared their analysis of the bills with

the Parliamentary committee for legal and constitutional affairs. Imperative to note,

the recommendations in the previous citizen consultations i.e. The Citizens’ Compact

on free and fair election (2015) and the Citizens’ Electoral Reform Agenda (2011) and

those forwarded by the Supreme Court need to be put into consideration before

passing the bills.

Therefore, as we begin the electoral process, sterner attention should be put to

passing the electoral reforms as a safety cap that will regulate and push for a

participatory electoral process. For us to redeem the closing space for dissent, media

coverage and continued witch hunt of the opposition, parliament needs to pass the

electoral reform bills with the needed amendments. This will be a stepping stone

towards securing legal frameworks that will govern the electoral processes and as

well as create hope within the electorate in elections as a capable channel for

delivering change and stability to the political life of Uganda.

By Tricia Gloria Nabaye

Research Fellow: GREAT LAKES INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES

gnabaye@gliss.org

THE RWENZORI AND ELGON REGION LANDSLIDES: A case of failed policy.

Landslides claim lives in hundreds yearly and leave many homeless and destitute. The Rwenzori
and Elgon region over a period of 10 years has experienced radicle landslides. Unfortunately,
many continue to grapple with the effects of these disasters continually.
In the wake of the Indian Ocean Dipole, a weather phenomenon which causes a rise in water
temperatures in the Indian Ocean up to 2C and as a result leads to higher evaporation rate off
the East African coastline —this has been regarded by scientists as the explanation for the
recent continuous rains in East Africa.

In October 2019, the government of Uganda in partnership with the University of Maryland ran
a project of installing rain gauges that would provide early warning signs on the rain levels.
This was aimed at providing early evacuation warnings to residents in the land slide prone
areas. While the equipment did provide the information on the increasing rain levels and
information was shared with the residents of Bududa, few adhered to the warnings.

It should be noted that government started the Kiryandongo resettlement project after the
2010 landslide disaster. The cabinet approved the project and the committee that was selected
in that regard established that 100,000 people were at high risk of experiencing landslides and
required resettlement in safer locations. Government agreed to acquire 3200 acres of land
each year and provide 2.5 acres of land to each family at risk.

In a period of 10 years a total of 32,000 acres of land would have been acquired, enough to
resettle many displaced Ugandans in the Rwenzori and Elgon region.

We cannot continue to pile the statistics of the dead as a result of the landslides, responsible
ministries have a mandate to the people in these regions to protect and provide for them as
citizens of Uganda.

It should be noted that from 2010 we have had seven major landslide incidents and very few
people have been resettled in each incident.

In March 2010, the areas of Names, Pukalani Subcounty experienced landslide and 100 people
were confirmed dead and 5000 people displaced. In June 2012, Namaga, Bunakasala in Bududa
experienced another landslide and 450 people were confirmed dead with property and
livestock lost as well. In August 2017, the region of Bufupa Parish in Sironko district
experienced landslide with 7 people reported dead and hundreds displaced. In October 2018,
Suume village in Bukalasi-Bududa experienced landslide with 42 people reported dead and 500
people displaced. In May-October 2018 the areas of Namisindwa, Manafwa, Sironko, Bududa
and Bulambuli experienced 67 registered landslides, while no deaths were registered thousands
were left homeless. In June 2019 the areas of Buwali Sub county in Bududa had an episode of
landslides and 5 people were reported dead and 400 people were displaced.

The ongoing land slides in the Rwenzori and Elgon region are a clear indicator of how
implementation of policies is still evasive to us as a people. There is a looming gap that needs
to be addressed in providing resettlement, emergency rescue plan and rapid response units for
the people of Bududa. With no alternatives, they will stay in Bududa regardless of the life
threat the region poses.

There needs to be a deliberate resettlement plan for these people and a conservation remedy
for the Elgon and Rwenzori Mountain slopes in order to avert the continuous outbursts of
landslides that are as a result of erosions and tree cutting in the mountain regions.

The low lands continue to pose a life threat to the people of Bududa who by far have only had
spades and hoes as rescue tools. Government should revisit the relevance of the rain gauges
installed in the region and provide early warning alternatives to the residents in the Rwenzori
and Elgon region.

As the rains wage on, we stand in solidarity with the people in the Rwenzori and Elgon region.
We continue to advocate for the ubuntu ideology in these communities, so that as many as can
help will be placed in that position to do so.

Tricia Gloria Nabaye
gnabaye@gliss.org

THINKING OF 2021

In thought of the future, the general election of 2021 always floats with blur...

What will happen then, how many state politicians and security will be there then.Will the god father have his strongest allies by his side. How will the feel of the pending elections makes us. Will we be waiting anxiously on who our next president will be, or we will know that voting would not suffice change for us?

I wonder what the ballot system will be like, will we vote electronically like the passports we will have then? Or we will stand in cue and cast our paper ballots.

Will we count one paper vote at a time or they will be electronically tallied...I wonder.

Will our politicians still be promising us safe birth and hospital care for mothers? Will we be promised roads and fly overs on our own taxes? I still wonder.

Will the electoral commission be the one chosen by the powers that be, will there be an amendment in the electoral laws and by laws. Will we have some radical new face to the electoral system of our land or it will be the same?

The people that matter, the voters, will they be still taking bribe of sugar and soap or they will have elevated to holding their leaders accountable when they come to ask for their votes. Will they allow their own money to be given to them, without doing its purpose thereof?

Will the people be willing to trust the ballot system yet again, will they check their names in the register  and confirm their polling stations? Will they vote?

The security forces, will they come out in angry battalion gear or they will go to their respective polling stations and vote too. Will the red top be participating or standing by with their guns? Will there be an order to arrest opposition big wigs or they will let them vote peacefully?

In thought of the future, my head runs wild but in hope I carry on that the experiences of the past, the blood shed , the rigging, the military forces, the police brutality will be an experience of the past for a tired Ugandan like myself.