William Kituuka Kiwanuka
NRM MPs WANT ECONOMIC SABOTEURS KILLED
President Museveni overseeing the NRM MPs and ministers parade at Kyankwanzi.
By Catherine Bekunda and Henry Sekanjako
National Resistance Movement (NRM) MPs meeting at Kyankwanzi have demanded that the Government introduces a ‘shoot-to-kill’ policy for people engaged in economic sabotage.
The MPs argued that the policy would work well if Uganda was to transform from an agricultural economy into an industrialised one.
Over 100 MPs are attending a 10-day retreat at the National Leadership Institute in Kyankwanzi.
MPs were reacting to a paper presented by David Mafabi on imperialism, neo-colonialism and globalisation and their impact on the Ugandan economy.
According to a press statement issued on Monday, President Yoweri Museveni asked the MPs whether they would support such a bill if it was presented before Parliament and all MPs chorused “Yes” in response.
The statement added that the President said: “Unfortunately, Uganda is not like some other countries that have developed a ‘shoot-to-kill’ policy for people who are engaged in economic sabotage.”
Last year, President Museveni attracted criticism when he suggested that people who engage in economic sabotage, murder, riots and defilement be denied bail.
Human rights activists also rejected the proposal, saying bail is a human right.
President Museveni also pointed out some of the contradictions involved in transforming from an agricultural to an industrialized economy.
He cited the case of Dr. Florence Muranga’s banana project that was almost sabotaged because legislators sought the feasibility study from her, instead of helping her with economic research.
NRM MPs and Ministers standing at attention in a parade before their party chairman, President Museveni (foreground). PPU PHOTO
The President defended Dr. Muranga’s initiative, saying he had stopped her from selling the patent rights to a foreign company in order for Uganda to directly benefit from her work.
He said he would seek the allegiance of Parliament in securing funds for supporting scientists engaged in research and development for a five-year project to assist the Makerere University’s Faculty of Science and Technology in completing more research innovations.
Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi also gave a lecture on the history of the NRM and its rise to power.
According to sources that preferred anonymity, Mbabazi said the NRM cannot be compared to parties like the Uganda People’s Congress.
“NRM is a party for all. It is very tolerant and it advocates for the economic, social and political transformation for all Ugandans,” the source quoted Mbabazi.
He said NRM had encouraged the development and prosperity of all Ugandans through good governance and peace.
Mbabazi added that unlike other parties that have regional biases, the NRM was enjoying support from across Uganda as evidenced in last year’s general elections.
The MPs were also taken through lectures on neo-colonialism, imperialism and contemporary globalisation.
The legislators proposed that Uganda needs to re-think its place in the global context by building awareness on issues that call for commitment within the development policy framework.
The MPs also called for investment in non-traditional sectors of the economy, going beyond comparative advantage to building competitive advantage that works for fundamental socio-economic transformation.
Members of the NRM parliamentary caucus are attending a 10-day retreat at the National Leadership Institute at Kyankwanzi.
LETTER ABOUT THE HANDLING OF WALK TO WORK BY CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS
25th April 2011
To the Government of Uganda, Members of Opposition and Distinguished Stake Holders.
RE: CSO LETTER ON THE HANDLING OF THE WALK TO WORK CAMPAIGN AND DEMONSTRATIONS
We, the undersigned Civil Society Organizations, would like to protest the way freedoms and rights of Ugandans have been trampled upon and flagrantly violated in the ongoing demonstrations against high food and fuel prices in Uganda. The State’s response to the
citizen’s exercise of the freedom of demonstration has resulted into violations of rights of
innocent Ugandans which are guaranteed under the Constitution and International Human
rights law Conventions and Covenants to which Uganda is party. Specifically, we condemn in
the strongest terms the following acts and violations.
1. The refusal of state agencies including the Uganda Police Force (UPF) and the Uganda
People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) to let peaceful demonstrators participate in the ‘Walk
to Work’, ‘Walk to Pray’, demonstration which is their guaranteed right thus violating
their freedom of movement and expression guaranteed under article 29(2) and article
40(2) of the Ugandan Constitution, article 13(1) of Universal Declaration of Human
Rights (UDHR) and article 12 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
(ICCPR). The act also violates the right to associate and the right to peacefully
demonstrate as guaranteed under article 29(1) of the Ugandan Constitution, and
Articles 21 and 22 of ICCPR.
2. The arrest and detention of demonstrators undermines the provisions of article 23 of
the Uganda constitution which protects personal liberty and prohibits arrest and
detention of individuals unless circumstances laid out as exceptions are met. We are
concerned that the arrests and detentions have gone beyond the exemptions envisaged
under the constitution.
3. In the same vein, we recognize the fact that civil rights are not absolute and that their
enjoyment can be limited in line with Article 43 of the constitution of Uganda. However
we would like to note that the provisions of Article 43 should be fully adhered to. We
call upon the state to follow Article 43(2) (c) which provides that suspension of civil
liberties should be in accordance with what is acceptable in a free and democratic
society. We note that the use of Article 43 by state agencies to suspend civil rights in the prevailing circumstances do not meet the spirit and form of Article 43(2) of the
Uganda Constitution.
4. We call upon the government to stop the unjustified extremism and, in particular, the
security agencies¡¦ brutal ¡¥methods¡¦ in handling the demonstrators as this is a threat to
the peace and stability in the country and should be halted forthwith.
In view of the above therefore, we call upon the Government of Uganda at all levels and
more particularly the Uganda Police Force and the Uganda Peoples¡¦ Defense Forces to:
„h Play a decisive leadership role in denouncing any brutal, inhumane methods of law
enforcement that are contrary to the Constitution of Uganda and internationally
recognized human rights standards.
„h Place its primary attention on addressing the concerns of the masses on the escalating
commodity prices through engagement and communication.
„h To reduce current public expenditure mode on administrative, in favor of more
pressing social issues such as curbing inflation, subsidizing food prices and reducing taxes
on fuel as well as creating employment opportunities and supporting long term coping
mechanisms for vulnerable groups.
„h Investigate, identify and prosecute the members of the security agencies that
perpetrated these human rights violations.
„h Arrest, investigate, and prosecute all those involved in illegal acts during demonstrations
including those who demolish property, those using violence, looting and all illegal acts
carried out during the demonstration
„h Expeditiously arraign any suspects of wrong doing before the courts of law and allow
them access to their lawyers and next of Kin in accordance with the notions of a fair
hearing
„h Desist from attacking the media and engage all stakeholders, including the political
parties, to discuss the national social issues prevalent in the country.
„h Explore the possibility of the Police and Political Parties and the Action For Human
Rights Group using the Demonstrations Guidelines developed by Uganda Human Rights
Commission and the wider civil society as a guiding principle in the management of
public order.
„h We also call for an independent investigation that the tear gas used in dispersing the
crowd in the last few weeks had expired hence creating health risks for children and
pregnant women.
„h We also call upon all the citizens and members of the opposition to exercise their rights
while adhering to their responsibilities of ensuring the security and the enjoyment of rights of other citizens. We thus condemn
property arising out of the intended peaceful ¡¥Walk to Work¡¦ campaign.
„h Foster a spirit of dialogue and constructive engagement in matters affecting the public in
order to ensure an environment in which all human rig
and accept constructive criticism from all stakeholders.
Signed by;
UGANDA WOMEN¡¦S NETWORK
(HRCU), HUMAN RIGHTS NETWORK FOR JOURNALISTS
UGANDA), HUMAN RIGHTS NETWORK UGANDA (H
CENTRE FOR TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION OF TORTURE
VICTIMS(ACTV), ACTION AID, CITIZENS COALITION FOR ELECTRAL
DEMOCRACY IN Uganda (CCEDU). DEVELOPMENT NETWORK FOR
INDEGENEOUS ORGANIZATIONS (DENIVA)
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