Can Uganda host the C’wealth meet?
Apr 13, 2005
The Commonwealth Secretary General, Don McKinnon, was in Uganda from April 6-7. <b>Felix Osike</b> had a brief interview with him on Uganda’s bid to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 2007 and the transition process.
QUESTION: How prepared is Uganda to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government
Meeting in 2007?
ANSWER: It is now 18 months to the CHOGM and I can not say anything concerning the Government’s planning, and the ability of the ministers to be aware of the demands of CHOGM. Although I haven’t seen all the proposed sites and details about this matter, my discussion with the ministers gives me the impression that they are determined to make it work, to meet the aspirations of all the leaders. A lot of it will hinge on the Malta CHOGM because the Malta CHOGM is a completely different from what leaders are used to, hopefully it will reflect what they want by the changes we have made and it is after that that we will hear from the leaders if we got it all right. The leaders’ views on the Malta CHOGM will determine some of the finer details that might emerge in the thinking and planning for the 2007 CHOGM in Uganda. But I don’t believe there will not be time to make the necessary changes following the Malta CHOGM.
Do you think the facilities available will take care of the guests?
I haven’t seen the facilities since I was here last year, but I am leaving two of my officials behind, Matthew NeuHaus and Joel Kibazo. They will look at everything tomorrow and give me a report.
The important thing is to be in constant dialogue with the Uganda Government, to know what the aspirations are. I think we are clarifying now in terms of the way the Malta CHOGM is going, what the impact will be here on some of those decisions.
What does Uganda require?
Really, you have to be able to isolate what costs are to be met by the private sector and the Government, look at the costs of the things the Government will do that will never ever be used again. That would have been your concern.
How much money is required?
About 25 million pounds, and half of the cost of the CHOGM these days is security-related and the Government has to meet those security costs.
Is there a possibility of change of venue?
Leaders made the decision in Abuja that Uganda would host the CHOGM after Malta. So it is really up to Uganda to continue to meet that commitment. If Uganda changes its mind, that is another issue, that is up to Uganda.
What is the Commonwealth’s contribution to Uganda’s transition process?
Most of our programmes in Uganda are related to capacity building. We are building capacity on the governmental system, economic system. Some of the issues may translate into supporting governance structures that support multiparty systems. The Commonwealth countries have long said they would like to see a multiparty system functioning in Uganda. This is happening now. There is a very big challenge within us anyway and I don’t believe you can ever underestimate the amount of work required to develop party political structures. You are getting assistance from a number of areas, I am told from the UK and the US. When you consider the political parties that were basically impotent it will take a while to change those structures into relevant contemporary parties.
The Uganda Constitution has a provision that bars a president from serving more than two terms. There is a Cabinet proposal to scrap the term limits. What is the Commonwealth view?
I am aware this is a very live debate here and throughout Africa. I had a discussion with President Museveni about it before. He knows our general view. What is important is that when you are addressing such issues, you need to be transparent. People should understand what the issues that have been taken to Parliament are, and what the issues being taken to the people by way of a referendum are. You have to acknowledge that when the people speak through a referendum or through their representatives, those are fairly profound decisions. I think things are progressing and this is very necessary.
You are facing a large bracket of 114 amendments on the constitutional changes into two Bills and one resolution. The principle issue is that the people do fully understand what these constitutional changes are about, why they are necessary, and what the objectives are. It is important all groups acknowledge there is need for the changes and are ready to accept those changes.
Where is Uganda on the democratic weighing scale?
We don’t put countries on a weighting scale
But you set benchmarks, which must be met?
We look at all the structures; the regularities of the elections, the role of an independent Electoral Commission, the Legislature, the Judiciary... do you have a Human Rights Commission, a transparent public accounts body?
So where is Uganda?
Uganda is firmly marching towards the democracy the people want it to be.
What is your comment on the proposed deployment of Ugandan troops for peace mission in Somalia and Sudan?
Peace keeping is not our field. We are more inclined to providing humanitarian assistance.
What is the progress on Zimbabwe since the last summit in Abuja? Is there any chance that it may be re-admitted to the Commonwealth?
Zimbabwe is no longer in the Commonwealth. Leaders collectively decided to suspend it on the basis of the evidence on the ground. Obviously, elections having come and gone, there was a significant interest in what was happening there. But also the Commonwealth was not invited to observe those elections. The Commonwealth having observed the previous two elections, I find it rather sad that there is divided opinion on the conduct of the last elections. This opinion does not augur well for the future of Zimbabwe. It is a pity Zimbabwe totally reversed its policy of being open to observers coming in for elections. They closed that door.
As far as I know, Zimbabwe has not sought re-admittance into the Commonwealth. I saw President Mugabe briefly at the inauguration of presidents of Mozambique and Namibia and he showed little inclination to talking to me about coming back to the Commonwealth.
Ends
Meeting in 2007?
ANSWER: It is now 18 months to the CHOGM and I can not say anything concerning the Government’s planning, and the ability of the ministers to be aware of the demands of CHOGM. Although I haven’t seen all the proposed sites and details about this matter, my discussion with the ministers gives me the impression that they are determined to make it work, to meet the aspirations of all the leaders. A lot of it will hinge on the Malta CHOGM because the Malta CHOGM is a completely different from what leaders are used to, hopefully it will reflect what they want by the changes we have made and it is after that that we will hear from the leaders if we got it all right. The leaders’ views on the Malta CHOGM will determine some of the finer details that might emerge in the thinking and planning for the 2007 CHOGM in Uganda. But I don’t believe there will not be time to make the necessary changes following the Malta CHOGM.
Do you think the facilities available will take care of the guests?
I haven’t seen the facilities since I was here last year, but I am leaving two of my officials behind, Matthew NeuHaus and Joel Kibazo. They will look at everything tomorrow and give me a report.
The important thing is to be in constant dialogue with the Uganda Government, to know what the aspirations are. I think we are clarifying now in terms of the way the Malta CHOGM is going, what the impact will be here on some of those decisions.
What does Uganda require?
Really, you have to be able to isolate what costs are to be met by the private sector and the Government, look at the costs of the things the Government will do that will never ever be used again. That would have been your concern.
How much money is required?
About 25 million pounds, and half of the cost of the CHOGM these days is security-related and the Government has to meet those security costs.
Is there a possibility of change of venue?
Leaders made the decision in Abuja that Uganda would host the CHOGM after Malta. So it is really up to Uganda to continue to meet that commitment. If Uganda changes its mind, that is another issue, that is up to Uganda.
What is the Commonwealth’s contribution to Uganda’s transition process?
Most of our programmes in Uganda are related to capacity building. We are building capacity on the governmental system, economic system. Some of the issues may translate into supporting governance structures that support multiparty systems. The Commonwealth countries have long said they would like to see a multiparty system functioning in Uganda. This is happening now. There is a very big challenge within us anyway and I don’t believe you can ever underestimate the amount of work required to develop party political structures. You are getting assistance from a number of areas, I am told from the UK and the US. When you consider the political parties that were basically impotent it will take a while to change those structures into relevant contemporary parties.
The Uganda Constitution has a provision that bars a president from serving more than two terms. There is a Cabinet proposal to scrap the term limits. What is the Commonwealth view?
I am aware this is a very live debate here and throughout Africa. I had a discussion with President Museveni about it before. He knows our general view. What is important is that when you are addressing such issues, you need to be transparent. People should understand what the issues that have been taken to Parliament are, and what the issues being taken to the people by way of a referendum are. You have to acknowledge that when the people speak through a referendum or through their representatives, those are fairly profound decisions. I think things are progressing and this is very necessary.
You are facing a large bracket of 114 amendments on the constitutional changes into two Bills and one resolution. The principle issue is that the people do fully understand what these constitutional changes are about, why they are necessary, and what the objectives are. It is important all groups acknowledge there is need for the changes and are ready to accept those changes.
Where is Uganda on the democratic weighing scale?
We don’t put countries on a weighting scale
But you set benchmarks, which must be met?
We look at all the structures; the regularities of the elections, the role of an independent Electoral Commission, the Legislature, the Judiciary... do you have a Human Rights Commission, a transparent public accounts body?
So where is Uganda?
Uganda is firmly marching towards the democracy the people want it to be.
What is your comment on the proposed deployment of Ugandan troops for peace mission in Somalia and Sudan?
Peace keeping is not our field. We are more inclined to providing humanitarian assistance.
What is the progress on Zimbabwe since the last summit in Abuja? Is there any chance that it may be re-admitted to the Commonwealth?
Zimbabwe is no longer in the Commonwealth. Leaders collectively decided to suspend it on the basis of the evidence on the ground. Obviously, elections having come and gone, there was a significant interest in what was happening there. But also the Commonwealth was not invited to observe those elections. The Commonwealth having observed the previous two elections, I find it rather sad that there is divided opinion on the conduct of the last elections. This opinion does not augur well for the future of Zimbabwe. It is a pity Zimbabwe totally reversed its policy of being open to observers coming in for elections. They closed that door.
As far as I know, Zimbabwe has not sought re-admittance into the Commonwealth. I saw President Mugabe briefly at the inauguration of presidents of Mozambique and Namibia and he showed little inclination to talking to me about coming back to the Commonwealth.
Ends