Keep army out of politics, says Kategaya
Oct 18, 2004
Former deputy premier Eriya Kategaya has urged the Government to keep the army out of politics for a democratic transition to multi-partyism.
By Joel Ogwang
Former deputy premier Eriya Kategaya has urged the Government to keep the army out of politics for a democratic transition to multi-partyism.
He attributed past coups in Uganda to too much involvement of the army in politics.
“All the past regimes involved the army too much in politics and the results were the subsequent coups that led to the overthrow of those governments.
“The Government should avoid army representation in Parliament, or involving them in elections, if we want a democratic transition to multiparty politics,†he said.
Kategaya was the guest speaker at a debate organised by Uganda Christian University students’ guild in Bishop Nkoyooyo hall on Saturday.
His speech focused on the Government White Paper, which he said included some positive proposals.
He, however, disagreed with the proposal to retain the army in Parliament.
Kategaya said one of the achievements of the Movement since 1986 when it assumed power was to restore self-confidence, peace and freedom among Ugandans, which had been squandered by the despotic Obote, Amin and Lutwa regimes.
Asked why he failed to influence the removal of the army from politics while he was in the Government, Kategaya said, “I am a member of the High Command, though by history. We made a mistake to involve the army in politics. We should learn from our past mistakes to correct the future.â€
He said if the proposal was passed, it would give the Government too much representation and influence in parliamentary decisions. He urged President Yoweri Museveni to respect the Constitution and step down when his two five-year terms expire in 2006.
He quoted Museveni during the March 2001 presidential elections as saying, “This second and last term as President of Uganda will be very important for me and the development of democracy in this country,†and said he would be ‘eating’ his own words if he stood for a third term.
He praised dual citizenship and making Kiswahili a national language as stipulated in the White Paper. He said it would ease communication among the three East African states once a regional tier surfaced. Kategaya also backed the call to try cultural leaders who break the law.
“No person is above the law. If the Kabaka, for example, kills a person, he should be tried in the courts of law like any other Ugandan,†he said. He urged the Government to translate the White Paper into local languages.
Ends
Former deputy premier Eriya Kategaya has urged the Government to keep the army out of politics for a democratic transition to multi-partyism.
He attributed past coups in Uganda to too much involvement of the army in politics.
“All the past regimes involved the army too much in politics and the results were the subsequent coups that led to the overthrow of those governments.
“The Government should avoid army representation in Parliament, or involving them in elections, if we want a democratic transition to multiparty politics,†he said.
Kategaya was the guest speaker at a debate organised by Uganda Christian University students’ guild in Bishop Nkoyooyo hall on Saturday.
His speech focused on the Government White Paper, which he said included some positive proposals.
He, however, disagreed with the proposal to retain the army in Parliament.
Kategaya said one of the achievements of the Movement since 1986 when it assumed power was to restore self-confidence, peace and freedom among Ugandans, which had been squandered by the despotic Obote, Amin and Lutwa regimes.
Asked why he failed to influence the removal of the army from politics while he was in the Government, Kategaya said, “I am a member of the High Command, though by history. We made a mistake to involve the army in politics. We should learn from our past mistakes to correct the future.â€
He said if the proposal was passed, it would give the Government too much representation and influence in parliamentary decisions. He urged President Yoweri Museveni to respect the Constitution and step down when his two five-year terms expire in 2006.
He quoted Museveni during the March 2001 presidential elections as saying, “This second and last term as President of Uganda will be very important for me and the development of democracy in this country,†and said he would be ‘eating’ his own words if he stood for a third term.
He praised dual citizenship and making Kiswahili a national language as stipulated in the White Paper. He said it would ease communication among the three East African states once a regional tier surfaced. Kategaya also backed the call to try cultural leaders who break the law.
“No person is above the law. If the Kabaka, for example, kills a person, he should be tried in the courts of law like any other Ugandan,†he said. He urged the Government to translate the White Paper into local languages.
Ends