Forces Should Not Be Political
Jan 06, 2004
FOLLOWING the registration of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) as a political party, it was inevitable for President Yoweri Museveni to retire from the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).
FOLLOWING the registration of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) as a political party, it was inevitable for President Yoweri Museveni to retire from the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).
The registration of the NRM as a political party left the President with only two options. If the President was interested in taking up a leadership position in the NRM, then he had to resign from the army.
If he chose to remain in the army, he would not play any role in the NRM affairs or even campaign for the organisation during elections.
Section 16 of the Political Parties and Organisations Act of 2002 is definite. It states:
“A member of the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces, the Uganda Police Force, the Uganda Prisons Service or a public officer or a traditional or cultural leader shall not - (a) be a founding or other member of a political party or organisation; or (b) hold office in a political party or organisation; or (c) speak in public or publish anything involving matters of political party or organisation controversy; or (d) engage in canvassing in support of a political party or organisation or of a candidate standing for public election sponsored by a political party or organisation.â€
And it is a criminal offence for an army, police or prisons officer to engage in political party activities.
At a time when the country is entering into a critical political phase, President Museveni could not disqualify himself from the NRM leadership by opting to remain in the army.
The President is Commander-in-Chief of the UPDF.
However, in my view, it was a mistake for the Constituent Assembly (CA) to reject a proposal for army officers to resign before contesting for an elective political office. The Constitution needs to be amended to make it a requirement for army officers to retire before joining politics.
This would also prevent a situation, which was witnessed in the 2001 presidential and parliamentary elections, whereby army officers were involved in political campaigns.
When the Parties Act, which I think is a bad law, was enacted, it was not intended to prohibit soldiers from politics. The assumption was that parties would operate, but under the Movement system. The idea of registering NRM as a political party had not been conceived. The Act therefore only sought to prohibit soldiers from supporting or joining the opposition (parties).
The President has been affected by the provisions of the Parties Act by default and not by design. It is however good that the President has opted to play by the rules. All other army officers involved in politics should apply for retirement, if they want to be in politics. This would, in my view, help demilitarise the country’s politics.
Armed forces, particularly the army, should be above political rivalries, contraversies and conflicts.
Ends
The registration of the NRM as a political party left the President with only two options. If the President was interested in taking up a leadership position in the NRM, then he had to resign from the army.
If he chose to remain in the army, he would not play any role in the NRM affairs or even campaign for the organisation during elections.
Section 16 of the Political Parties and Organisations Act of 2002 is definite. It states:
“A member of the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces, the Uganda Police Force, the Uganda Prisons Service or a public officer or a traditional or cultural leader shall not - (a) be a founding or other member of a political party or organisation; or (b) hold office in a political party or organisation; or (c) speak in public or publish anything involving matters of political party or organisation controversy; or (d) engage in canvassing in support of a political party or organisation or of a candidate standing for public election sponsored by a political party or organisation.â€
And it is a criminal offence for an army, police or prisons officer to engage in political party activities.
At a time when the country is entering into a critical political phase, President Museveni could not disqualify himself from the NRM leadership by opting to remain in the army.
The President is Commander-in-Chief of the UPDF.
However, in my view, it was a mistake for the Constituent Assembly (CA) to reject a proposal for army officers to resign before contesting for an elective political office. The Constitution needs to be amended to make it a requirement for army officers to retire before joining politics.
This would also prevent a situation, which was witnessed in the 2001 presidential and parliamentary elections, whereby army officers were involved in political campaigns.
When the Parties Act, which I think is a bad law, was enacted, it was not intended to prohibit soldiers from politics. The assumption was that parties would operate, but under the Movement system. The idea of registering NRM as a political party had not been conceived. The Act therefore only sought to prohibit soldiers from supporting or joining the opposition (parties).
The President has been affected by the provisions of the Parties Act by default and not by design. It is however good that the President has opted to play by the rules. All other army officers involved in politics should apply for retirement, if they want to be in politics. This would, in my view, help demilitarise the country’s politics.
Armed forces, particularly the army, should be above political rivalries, contraversies and conflicts.
Ends