Sovereignty of the people
ARTICLE 1 (1) and 1(4) of the Constitution of Uganda states: “All power belongs to the people who shall exercise their sovereignty in accordance with this Constitution...
By Dora Byamukama
ARTICLE 1 (1) and 1(4) of the Constitution of Uganda states: “All power belongs to the people who shall exercise their sovereignty in accordance with this Constitution...
"The people shall express their will and consent on who shall govern them and how they should be governed, through regular, free and fair elections of their representatives or through referenda.â€
The operation of this constitutional provision is most evident during the electoral process. This is a time when the fact that all power belongs to the people is most felt. When soliciting votes, the length one has to go to in order to win the vote is amazing. We have seen politicians going on their knees, dancing and singing for the vote.
What makes this exercise complex is partly because it is an expression of will and consent on who shall govern. Expression of will and granting of consent are personal choices based on each individual’s preference. Therefore, determinants of a particular choice of candidate can be based on a serious evaluation of a person’s professional capacity and actions or merely because the person is pleasant, good looking and humorous! I conducted a mini survey and these are some of the reasons that were given for voting a particular candidate:
Professionalism and potential to execute the set tasks;
Trust because they are tried and tested—based on work executed;
Tribe;
Relative, friend;
lReligion;
Political party;
Geographical location—origin;
Gender—male or female;
Capacity to finance;
Message of conviction—effective communication;
For the sake of change
For continuity or “no changeâ€.
In a multiparty dispensation, a person who belongs to a party is obliged under the party code of conduct to vote for a candidate of the same party. This principle is, however, difficult to enforce because voting is in most cases by secret ballot. The party has to count on a member’s discipline and commitment that they will vote for the party even in secrecy.
Capacity to rise to this level of discipline and commitment to a point where one votes for a party candidate rather than a brother or a sister who belongs to another party or is standing on individual merit can only be attained if that person wholly believes in the political party. Belief and commitment to a political party is achievable when the political party’s ideology resonates with the soul of an individual. An ideology, according to Wikipedia, is “a set of ideas that constitutes one’s goals, expectations, and actions.
A political ideology largely concerns itself with how to allocate power and to what ends it should be used. In the most recent presidential elections, the media did an excellent job of prompting candidates to state succinctly their areas of focus. This obliged each political party or candidate to specify their goals, articulate how society should be organised; and the most appropriate ways to achieve the ideal arrangement.
When all is said and done, judging from the last four elections of 1996, 2001, 2006 and 2011; Ugandans are increasingly expressing their will and consent on who shall govern them on the basis of goals, expectations, and actions. This is evidence of gradual creation of a cognitive environment, whereby a voter is increasingly likely to vote for a political party or an individual whose focus is to address their concerns.
These concerns must be prioritised. For example, areas that captured my attention were targeted at improved household incomes, employment for the youth and education loans. Poverty remains our number one enemy.
With increased levels of education, civic education, and avenues for information sharing, especially amongst the youth; political parties need to consciously evolve ideologies.
Political ideologies will enable parties to form coalitions, and build alliances with other parties in the East African region and beyond on the basis of similar ideologies. This also has the potential to create a critical mass of like-minded cadres who can effect positive change.
Now that the elections are over, each of us need to do some soul-searching—why did you vote for a particular candidate?
Congratulations to all who were elected to serve the people-starting with the NRM presidential flag-bearer, Yoweri Kaguta Kaguta
Museveni.
To all those who lost in the elections, take heart. It is not what happens to us that matters, but how we react to it. We plan, God ordains. Greater opportunities await those who endure. The struggle continues.
ARTICLE 1 (1) and 1(4) of the Constitution of Uganda states: “All power belongs to the people who shall exercise their sovereignty in accordance with this Constitution...
"The people shall express their will and consent on who shall govern them and how they should be governed, through regular, free and fair elections of their representatives or through referenda.â€
The operation of this constitutional provision is most evident during the electoral process. This is a time when the fact that all power belongs to the people is most felt. When soliciting votes, the length one has to go to in order to win the vote is amazing. We have seen politicians going on their knees, dancing and singing for the vote.
What makes this exercise complex is partly because it is an expression of will and consent on who shall govern. Expression of will and granting of consent are personal choices based on each individual’s preference. Therefore, determinants of a particular choice of candidate can be based on a serious evaluation of a person’s professional capacity and actions or merely because the person is pleasant, good looking and humorous! I conducted a mini survey and these are some of the reasons that were given for voting a particular candidate:
Professionalism and potential to execute the set tasks;
Trust because they are tried and tested—based on work executed;
Tribe;
Relative, friend;
lReligion;
Political party;
Geographical location—origin;
Gender—male or female;
Capacity to finance;
Message of conviction—effective communication;
For the sake of change
For continuity or “no changeâ€.
In a multiparty dispensation, a person who belongs to a party is obliged under the party code of conduct to vote for a candidate of the same party. This principle is, however, difficult to enforce because voting is in most cases by secret ballot. The party has to count on a member’s discipline and commitment that they will vote for the party even in secrecy.
Capacity to rise to this level of discipline and commitment to a point where one votes for a party candidate rather than a brother or a sister who belongs to another party or is standing on individual merit can only be attained if that person wholly believes in the political party. Belief and commitment to a political party is achievable when the political party’s ideology resonates with the soul of an individual. An ideology, according to Wikipedia, is “a set of ideas that constitutes one’s goals, expectations, and actions.
A political ideology largely concerns itself with how to allocate power and to what ends it should be used. In the most recent presidential elections, the media did an excellent job of prompting candidates to state succinctly their areas of focus. This obliged each political party or candidate to specify their goals, articulate how society should be organised; and the most appropriate ways to achieve the ideal arrangement.
When all is said and done, judging from the last four elections of 1996, 2001, 2006 and 2011; Ugandans are increasingly expressing their will and consent on who shall govern them on the basis of goals, expectations, and actions. This is evidence of gradual creation of a cognitive environment, whereby a voter is increasingly likely to vote for a political party or an individual whose focus is to address their concerns.
These concerns must be prioritised. For example, areas that captured my attention were targeted at improved household incomes, employment for the youth and education loans. Poverty remains our number one enemy.
With increased levels of education, civic education, and avenues for information sharing, especially amongst the youth; political parties need to consciously evolve ideologies.
Political ideologies will enable parties to form coalitions, and build alliances with other parties in the East African region and beyond on the basis of similar ideologies. This also has the potential to create a critical mass of like-minded cadres who can effect positive change.
Now that the elections are over, each of us need to do some soul-searching—why did you vote for a particular candidate?
Congratulations to all who were elected to serve the people-starting with the NRM presidential flag-bearer, Yoweri Kaguta Kaguta
Museveni.
To all those who lost in the elections, take heart. It is not what happens to us that matters, but how we react to it. We plan, God ordains. Greater opportunities await those who endure. The struggle continues.