Democracy is more than a mere change of guards

trueBy James Katongana

In 1986, a new political chapter was written in the chronicles of our history. A dictatorial government had been overthrown and political sanity had been restored-at least promised.

Unlike Moses in the Bible who did not reach the Promised Land but at least Ugandans had more hope than expectations that a new era had dawned.

After being sworn in on January 29, 1986, President Yoweri Museveni addressed enthusiastic thousands of crowds awaiting him outside the Ugandan Parliament and promised a return to democracy and ensured them that democracy is not a favour but a right.

In his own words he said “this is not a mere change of guard, it is a fundamental change. The people of Africa, the people of Uganda are entitled to a democratic government. It is not a favour from any regime. The sovereign people must be public, not the government.”

If elections are to go by, as a measure of democracy, then President Museveni should be credited for it. Uganda has had four presidential and parliamentary elections; in 1996, 2001, 2006 and 2011.

Of course this was after many decades of authoritarian rule. That is precisely what we need. Ugandans have the right to change their government democratically through the ballot not the barrel of the gun.

Some critics think that removing a person from the presidency or putting presidential term limits is what constitutes democracy. No, that would constitute a change of guard.

The definition of democracy by those who champion it seem to tilt to their interest. In fact, America amuses me when it says it supports democracy when leadership has changed hands.

For instance they say they support Israel because it is the only democracy in the Middle East. But you are all aware that 50% of its citizens are disfranchised as long as they are not Jewish. One to vote needs to be Jewish and Palestinian citizens who have Israel citizenship cannot participate.

To me, the term limits is not a measure to stability and democracy. There are much more indicators that show that a country has stability. Culture, economic trends, homogeneous population, income equality, fairness of the law etc, all play a much larger role in stability than term limits to the executive.

I also have misgivings about elections. Elections are costly and sometimes we know in advance who will win. If the Government could spend the campaign money on building roads, health facilities and enhance citizen access to clean water that would be feasible.

In fact someone said that democracy is more than just holding elections. That it is important that the measures of democracy are challenged from the background they are exercised.

The funny part of the western world about elections is that when countries hold elections and transition of power is peaceful they are quick to voice it democratic.  Democracy goes beyond elections as the test of it comes after the elections are over. The electorates have no role either before or after the election other than casting the vote on the scheduled day of the election.

Nonetheless, if we think it can satisfy our ego we can continue exercising our rights and obligations in fostering democracy not by mere change of guards but change of government.

By the way, when NRM came into power, it inherited a country without a state and building a state does not afford the romanticism of change of leaders.

For instance, if you care to remember the biggest government expenditure was on defense and security because government creating a state. That work is now over and what is going on is consolidation.

The Government’s priorities now are roads, education, energy, health and lastly defense and security.

The writer is a Pan-Africanist