Evolution of democracy

Jan 07, 2001

UGANDA'S journey on the road to full democracy goes up another gear today as the nomination exercise for presidential candidates gets underway.

UGANDA'S journey on the road to full democracy goes up another gear today as the nomination exercise for presidential candidates gets underway. Anywhere close to two dozen aspirants are eligible for the exercise. By the end of tomorrow, we should know who would be on the ballot paper come election day in March. Many of today's aspirants declared their intent to stand a little late, reflecting poorly on their level of organisation. At the weekend, one aspirant citing honesty to self, family and nation, fell out of the running. None of this should detract from the bigger phenomenon of democratisation. If anything, the numbers of aspirants and the abandon with which they can get into the race underscores the foundation of freedom, which is essential for democracy. But for democracy to thrive, there must be law and order, and so electoral regulations will see a dozen or so fail to turn their aspirations into candidacy. That should be alright, because quite apart from giving their personal profiles a lift, they would have played a part in the enhancement of democracy; certainly our brand of individual merit. It is not too long ago that Ugandans had no say in who should rule them; and if there ever was a chance, the choice was very limited. This is by far the biggest menu we have had to choose from. Of course the challenge democracy poses is the ability and will for the society to keep evolving, and not undermining, it. The next few weeks are going to be a particularly testing time as our levels of tolerance, willingness to listen to the other side, basic respect for law and order are going to come under close scrutiny. If we are truly on the way to democracy, we should pass these road tests. Ends

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