Political parties dismiss Gadaffi’s remarks on democracy

By Barbara Among and Moses Mulondo

Politicians have rubbished Libyan leader Muammar Gadaffi’s advice that African leaders should resist western democracy and only retire when the voters will.

Gadaffi, while closing the Afro-Arab youth conference on Monday, said term limits were alien to Africa and inhibited people from expressing their will.

He hailed leaders like President Yoweri Museveni and Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe as African heroes, who should continue ruling.

However, politicians said democracy, like human rights, were doctrines that could not be defined according to race or tribes.

“Democracy is neither African, European nor Asian. Like Human rights, it is universal,” said UPC secretary general Peter Walubiri

He said Gadaffi’s remarks were a mockery to the values of the Commonwealth, which President Museveni is chairing.

The call for leaders to rely on the will of the people, Walubiri noted, was an “empty statement” since armies are central in African politics.

The treasurer of the ruling NRM parliamentary caucus, David Bahati, said Uganda would alienate itself from the international community if it adopted its own form of democracy.

“We should know we are part of a bigger international community and it is important for Uganda to respect those principles.”

Bahati also dismissed Gadaffi’s declaration of Robert Mugabe as an African hero, given the suffering Zimbabweans are facing.

He also pointed out that Uganda’s Constitution gave people power to determine how long the president should stay.

The leader of the opposition in Parliament, Prof. Ogenga Latigo, was equally dismissive.

“What is African? How do you define Ugandan? Democratic principles are universal, respect for rule of law, people’s decisions and institutions. There is nothing African or European about it.”

In defence of Gadaffi, the NRM deputy spokesperson, Ofwono Opondo, said democracy should be defined according to societal values.

“In Uganda we have a multiparty political system that still values individual merit. This is democracy, defined by Uganda.”

The FDC spokesman, Wafula Oguttu, however, accused Ofwono of selectively applying democratic principles. He said holding periodic elections without a level playing field was no democracy.

“Are things like abuse of human rights, vote rigging and illegal detention African,” he asked.

DP president Ssebaana Kizito said Gadaffi had a history of promoting dictatorships.

“Gadaffi was the leading defender of Idi Amin’s autocracy. Not only did he decorate him as field marshal, but also gave him military assistance and encouraged him to declare himself life president.

“It is Gadaffi who persuaded Museveni to lift the term limits.”

Ssebaana also demanded that Uganda defines its foreign policy.

“Ours is a democratic country. We share nothing with Libya on issues of governance.”