Expedite Bill on cultural leaders
Nov 21, 2009
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni told cultural leaders on Wednesday that a Bill that will regulate relations between them and the central government has been approved by cabinet.
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni told cultural leaders on Wednesday that a Bill that will regulate relations between them and the central government has been approved by cabinet.
Speaking to the cultural leaders who are attending a three-day forum in Masindi, Museveni said among the things included in the Bill is a provision barring the leaders from politics and politicians from meddling in cultural affairs.
It will be interesting to see how this is achieved.
However, the principle of the Bill is sound and should be supported.
Since the restoration of cultural institutions in 1993, there has been no law proscribing how they will operate or interface with the central government.
This loophole has been exploited by both sides and is at the heart of all tensions that have flared up between the central government and cultural leaders.
The Government’s proposed law will form the basis for discussion and provide every side with an opportunity to put their side of the story before the public.
The eventual law will act as an objective measure in setting rules of engagement and arbitrating future disputes.
In the UK, where the Queen is the head of state and the Prime Minister the head of government, there are no written rules of engagement.
However, they have had the benefit of decades of tradition on which to stand and a set of unwritten rules that are honoured by both parties.
Judging by recent events and the accusations and counter accusations between Mengo and the central government, clearly we do not have the luxury of time.
It would be useful too while in drafting the bill, if the Government consulted the cultural leaders and thrashed out the basic minimum of shared expectations so that when the Bill comes to Parliament, there is a basic consensus and the Bill’s passing into law can be expedited. Ugandans should urge the quick passing of the law, after all, when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.
Speaking to the cultural leaders who are attending a three-day forum in Masindi, Museveni said among the things included in the Bill is a provision barring the leaders from politics and politicians from meddling in cultural affairs.
It will be interesting to see how this is achieved.
However, the principle of the Bill is sound and should be supported.
Since the restoration of cultural institutions in 1993, there has been no law proscribing how they will operate or interface with the central government.
This loophole has been exploited by both sides and is at the heart of all tensions that have flared up between the central government and cultural leaders.
The Government’s proposed law will form the basis for discussion and provide every side with an opportunity to put their side of the story before the public.
The eventual law will act as an objective measure in setting rules of engagement and arbitrating future disputes.
In the UK, where the Queen is the head of state and the Prime Minister the head of government, there are no written rules of engagement.
However, they have had the benefit of decades of tradition on which to stand and a set of unwritten rules that are honoured by both parties.
Judging by recent events and the accusations and counter accusations between Mengo and the central government, clearly we do not have the luxury of time.
It would be useful too while in drafting the bill, if the Government consulted the cultural leaders and thrashed out the basic minimum of shared expectations so that when the Bill comes to Parliament, there is a basic consensus and the Bill’s passing into law can be expedited. Ugandans should urge the quick passing of the law, after all, when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.