Govt is right on parties

Mar 27, 2005

THE Government’s directive to all district officials to allow political parties to freely operate is timely and a step in the right direction. It is crucial that the Government takes measures to create a political climate that will allow all political actors and forces to operate freely and compet

THE Government’s directive to all district officials to allow political parties to freely operate is timely and a step in the right direction. It is crucial that the Government takes measures to create a political climate that will allow all political actors and forces to operate freely and compete for power if the country is to establish a genuinely multiparty system.
The country is undergoing important political changes. The Government is taking steps to move the country from the Movement system to multiparty politics. The Constitutional (Amendment) Bill that, among other things, seeks to provide for the forthcoming elections to be held under a multiparty political system is before Parliament. So far, over 15 political parties, including the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) have been duly registered and issued with certificates of registration. They are entities legally recognised. Of all the old parties, only the Democratic Party, ironically, the country’s oldest party, is unregistered, largely because of reckless internal power struggles. The Thursday opposition demonstration in the city against the third term also demonstrated that the Government is gradually opening up the political space. Obviously, it was unfair that the Police only gave the demo a nod at the eleventh hour and even dictated the time it should be held, yet there were no such conditionality for a previous demo organised by the pro-kisanja activists.
In spite of these positive political developments, there have been incidents, which create a climate of uncertainty, anxiety and fear about the country’s future.
There have been reports, quoting overzealous local leaders vowing not to allow the opposition parties to hold meetings or open up branches in their areas. Such statements are reminiscent of the notorious UPC chairmen of the 1980s.
However, it is not only local security and Movement officials who have been cited in acts of political harassment. Some national leaders have been implicated. A Member of Parliament was recently accused of sabotaging a meeting of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) in Busia. There have been accusations that a government minister had forced the closure of the FDC office in Ntungamo. In Bunga, a week ago, an FDC supporter, Peggy Ntegyereize, was briefly held and questioned by the Police. The FDC argue that this was an act of intimidation. To date, the Police have not explained their action.
The security personnel, likewise, did not exhibit impartiality when they barred a group of FDC women from attending the national celebrations to mark the Women’s Day simply because they were donning party T-shirts. Why didn’t they bar the women who were donning NRM T-shirts and dry banana leaves?

I recognise the fact that some opposition activists have also harassed NRM supporters. Notably on March 22, 2005 a group of Uganda Young Democrats (UYD) physically attacked the kisanja group at the Kampala district celebrations to mark the Women’s Day. I have not heard any leader from DP, FDC or UPC condemning the attack. Opposition activists who harass or intimidate NRM supporters must also be condemned.
Some accusations against the Government have been either exaggerated or unfounded. For example, an American diplomat who tried to verify allegations by FDC officials that the Police and security agents scared away people from attending their meeting at Bwala in Masaka found no evidence.
It appeared most people did not turn up for the meeting because there wasn’t sufficient mobilisation. The allegations were mere excuses.
The hostility of some Movement cadres and leaders against the opposition is understandable. Since 1986, the Movement has been preaching an ideology of hate against the parties through political courses. It is not surprising that the majority of the population is not enthusiastic about the re-introduction of multiparty politics. It is important to conduct a national campaign to sensitise people about the transition to multiparty politics. The security officers — the Police as well as well as the Internal Security Organisation operatives at the sub-county and district level must be given firm orders not to interfere or engage in partisan politics.
Ends

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