The IPC should respect the law
Jun 15, 2010
ANNE Mugisha, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) deputy secretary for foreign affairs has returned from the US to mobilise the grassroots women to participate in next year’s elections.
ANNE Mugisha, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) deputy secretary for foreign affairs has returned from the US to mobilise the grassroots women to participate in next year’s elections.
Meanwhile, a group of women belonging to the Inter-Party Coalition (IPC) on Tuesday clashed with the Police and two of them were arrested and charged with holding an unlawful demonstration.
This came on the heels of an unlawful demonstration by the IPC where the FDC leader, Dr Kizza Besigye and his colleagues, were beaten up for engaging in an unlawful demonstration.
Although the incident was unfortunate, the IPC must change the way it operates and recognise that there is rule of law in Uganda. Any healthy democracy needs a strong opposition, but this opposition must operate within the law. Mugisha emphasised that the IPC could defeat President Museveni in the elections.
If the IPC can do so without breaking the law, there is nothing wrong with that. However, it seems that the overwhelming objective by the opposition is to get President Museveni out of power and that explains their method of ‘end-justifies-the-means’ attitude. If that is the main goal of the opposition, it is most unfortunate because Uganda is bigger than any sitting president.
Secondly, it undermines the opposition’s credibility if they insist on conducting their affairs illegally. If they can unleash anarchy on the public when they are not in power, what would they do if they won the elections?
The purpose of both the opposition and the Government is to mould a better Uganda. The fact that we are in a multi-party dispensation does not mean we belong to a different country.
Uganda is for us all. If we really want to develop our country, confrontation will not get us there and if we want change it should be for the better. The anarchy that characterised the politics of the past Uganda should not be repeated.
Meanwhile, a group of women belonging to the Inter-Party Coalition (IPC) on Tuesday clashed with the Police and two of them were arrested and charged with holding an unlawful demonstration.
This came on the heels of an unlawful demonstration by the IPC where the FDC leader, Dr Kizza Besigye and his colleagues, were beaten up for engaging in an unlawful demonstration.
Although the incident was unfortunate, the IPC must change the way it operates and recognise that there is rule of law in Uganda. Any healthy democracy needs a strong opposition, but this opposition must operate within the law. Mugisha emphasised that the IPC could defeat President Museveni in the elections.
If the IPC can do so without breaking the law, there is nothing wrong with that. However, it seems that the overwhelming objective by the opposition is to get President Museveni out of power and that explains their method of ‘end-justifies-the-means’ attitude. If that is the main goal of the opposition, it is most unfortunate because Uganda is bigger than any sitting president.
Secondly, it undermines the opposition’s credibility if they insist on conducting their affairs illegally. If they can unleash anarchy on the public when they are not in power, what would they do if they won the elections?
The purpose of both the opposition and the Government is to mould a better Uganda. The fact that we are in a multi-party dispensation does not mean we belong to a different country.
Uganda is for us all. If we really want to develop our country, confrontation will not get us there and if we want change it should be for the better. The anarchy that characterised the politics of the past Uganda should not be repeated.