A well known secret in Uganda is the free flow of money & largess, like the use of yellow envelops by the president, that underpins M7's patronage system. It distorts policies, influences election outcomes, and favors M7's stay in power! The web of Patronage network is a cancer eating away at the very core of Uganda's democracy! Its the currency of M7's stranglehold on Uganda's political landscape that has contaminated the country's democratic process. In her well written narrative of "Museveni's Uganda: Paradoxes of Power in a Hybrid Regime" - Professor Aili Mari Tripp says the way the NRM came to assert its dominance is through the central government's relationships with local governments and its control of district level appointments and funds. In the process the NRM has built a patronage network that serves it well during elections. To guarantee they keep their jobs NRM government appointed district commissioners end up as political mobilizers for the NRM during elections, sometimes preventing non-NRM supporters from campaigning and voting. In a country where the government is the main source of employment, careers and social mobility can only be achieved by getting involved in the web of patronage relationships, especially for the working poor peasant majority. It is difficult to maintain a patronage system without corruption and that's why corruption cases continue to dominate the news in Uganda. Without a patronage network the removal of presidential term limits amendment would never have been possible. Museveni would not have won reelection in February 2011 after 25 years in power! The recent reelection of former vice president Gilbert Bukenya ( who was found guilty of bribing voters! ) would not have been possible.
Sphere: Related ContentMonday, December 19, 2011
Friday, December 16, 2011
The Paradox of M7!
For a man that claimed when he first came to power, that "The problem with African leaders is that the stay in power too long;" M7's greatest lingering contradiction is that he conviniently changed the constitution and created a patronage network to corrupt and cajole the conscience of gullible Ugandans to overextend his stay in power for more than 25 years now!
Sphere: Related ContentWednesday, November 16, 2011
The Price of Acquiesence!
“The strongest and most effective force in guaranteeing the long-term maintenance of power is not violence in all the forms deployed by the dominant to control the dominated, but consent in all the forms in which the dominated acquiesce in their own domination.”
Robert Frost quotes (American poet, 1874-1963)
Thursday, November 10, 2011
A Maverick!
"A maverick feels like he has no choice however difficult his choice of expression. In my case, it was going backwards into tonality. It seemed so wrong. The idea that progress is going into the past in a new way is very strange, even though there are precedents." - David Del Tredici
Tuesday, November 08, 2011
Freedom matters
"Freedom matters.
Freedom has lifted hundreds of millions of people from poverty.
And inspired oppressed peoples' struggle for human rights.
Freedom means directing our own lives.
And realizing remarkable tomorrows.
Libertarianism is the philosophy of freedom.
Libertarians demand that we respect the rights of individuals. And they recognize that, by doing so, we respect their dignity.
Securing individual rights is the purpose of government.
But government can also threaten our rights.
Libertarians would limit government to protecting life, liberty, and property.
Limiting government to these tasks frees us to experiment, innovate, and prosper.
Libertarianism is the philosophy of freedom, one that places liberty at the center of the human experience.
Because freedom matters."
watch on YouTube
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
The Hypocrisy of Uganda's Treason Trials!
The real hypocrisy of Uganda's treason trials is that M7 himself conspired with members of his current government to overthrow an elected government to come to power!
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
M7 could safeguard his legacy by charting a transition process!
“ ... like any leader in power for a quarter of a century, Mr Museveni delivers diminishing returns.”
“The suggestion by cronies and some western officials that he is irreplaceable as a force for stability in the region was always self-serving. In light of the uprisings in the Arab world, it sounds absurd. “
“Before it is too late, Uganda’s western allies should be urging him to prepare the ground for his succession during the elected term he began ... – the fourth he has won on a less-than-level playing field. Mr Museveni could safeguard his own legacy by charting the transition himself.”
Original source: Financial Times
Sunday, October 23, 2011
A candid look at Uganda's opposition!
Tensions between the opposition and M7's government came humiliatingly to a head once again this past week with the preventive detention & house arrest of FDC leader Dr. Basigye.
Wikipedia defines preventive detention as an imprisonment imposed not as a punishment for a crime, but in order to prevent a person from commiting a crime, if that person is deemed likely to commit a crime.
After the opposition defied the governments order not to demonstrate during the week when students where sitting for their national Olevel exams, the government basically threw the book at the opposition leader. Knowing the number of tools and leverage available to the governmet under such circumstances, you begin to wonder why the opposition did not see this coming!
Since the oppositions lopsided lose to M7 in the last presidential election, this is just another episode in a string of setbacks the opposition has suffered with more sobering dimensions. Its had to see how the opposition can overcome this current setback without some sole searching for real concessions to at least some of the governments demands.
There is a great deal wrong with M7's government and his overetended stay in power, but comparisons to Gadhafi are a bit exaggerated.
Unlike Gadhafi's Libya, Uganda retains democratic trapings with periodic presidential elections albeit all won by M7 on a less-than level playing field. Uganda also has an elected parliament, with opposition members and a functioning judiciary that has just indicted a former vice president and several current cabinet ministers on corruption charges.
If the opposition has genuine grevicences, why cant it use the judicial process?
Friday, October 21, 2011
M7's Attrition war!
M7 has so far, successfully played a war of attrition and the oppositions reluctancy to use the judicial process simply places the opposition in a position exactly where M7 wants them to be! Stuck, like deers under headlights in the dark, not exactly sure which way to go.
The only best choice for them is the " interest-based negotiation"; but so far they're stuck in their fixed win or lose bargaining position, which the govt is taking full advantage of with it's attrition approach.
With all the instruments of power and time, M7 has the leverage advantage.
It's very unlikely the Arab spring could happen in Uganda because most of the population is largely rural uniformed peasants whom M7 copouts with largesses! With the security forces still behind him, it's advantage M7 at this point and M7 is hopping his attrition war wears out his opponents!
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Positional Bargaining wont solve Uganda’s current political crisis!
The fixed positions win-lose pitched battles we are witnessing between the opposition and government is not going to solve anything.
The government with all the might and instruments of power at its disposal ( all at taxpayer expense! ) can feel in control by suppressing, locking up, indicting and vanquishing the opposition. But this is only a band-aid to the underlying interests of the opposition and the country at large.
By the same token the opposition can continue to tune out the governments position and interests and this too, is only a costly approach to getting what they want from the government.
The opportunity costs to both sides are going to be incalculable.
For the government, scarce resources at a time of economic stress are being diverted to this avoidable crisis, let alone it's reputation around the world. At home seeds of resentment are being planted now.
For the opposition their time and effort is being diverted to this avoidable stalemate, let alone their personal safety and lives are at stake!
This stalemate can only be mitigated if both sides are engaged in utilizing interest-based negotiation. An approach developed by the Harvard Negotiation Project.
Interest-based negotiation requires antagonists to list the interests behind their positions or demands.
Interests can be satisfied in many different ways. Which is why working with interests leads to many more options than positional bargaining.
In addition, satisfying interests is psychologically much different than caving into another person’s position or demand.
When you end up with satisfied antagonists involved in a dispute, you end up with a joint sense of well-being and pride at having jointly solved a problem. Its a Win-Win solution for all!
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Without mediation Uganda is headed into a political crisis abyss!
M7’s government and the opposition are once again caught in a classic battle of positional bargaining impasse rather than the utilization of interest-based negotiation.
A position is a demand that you are making on someone else. No one likes to be told what to do by someone else, so positional statements tend to get people angry.
Interests on the other hand are those things that underlie positions. They are the reasons justifying the positions.
The opposition’s current position is to assert its constitutional right to hold peaceful demonstrations. M7’s government’s current position insists that the opposition cannot hold those demonstrations at a time when O’level national exams are taking place.
Examples of the governments interests underlying its position might be to prevent the opposition from starting an Arab Spring type of revolution; another is its desire to have the opposition formerly inform & negotiate with the police about their demonstration plans.
The oppositions interests underlying their position might be a guarantee from the government not to interrupt their freedom of movement and have their constitutionally guarantied right to peaceful demonstrations with dignity. The list can go on!
Experts suggest that taking positions has many limitations. “Battles can leave you weakened.” The vanquished( in this case the opposition ) can become perpetual enemies.
With mediation and a cooling off period, the government & the opposition would separately write down their interests that underly their positions, i.e. the reasons justifying their positions. The mediator would then have each side separately review each sides statements of interest after which a preliminary meeting of a specific number of each party delegates would sit down and develop options to satisfy all opposing interests.
Its in the interest of both the government and the opposition to come to a peaceful and lasting resolution to this intractable dispute.
Positional bargaining is a common mode of negotiation in conflicts. People incorrectly believe that not revealing any information is strong, while disclosing information is weak. The basis for this belief is based on a preconscious risk assessment we make in every social situation. Generally speaking, we fear loss more than we desire gain. We will therefore adamantly state our own position, expecting others to listen. Of course, we don’t want to listen to the other person’s position, so we tune it out. Why is it that we expect people to listen and accept our personal positions when we are reluctant to listen and accept theirs? Is there any wonder why conflict can escalate so quickly?
The conflict arising from positional bargaining can be avoided by utilizing interested-based negotiation. This idea was first developed by scholars at the Harvard Negotiation Project and published in the 1981 book “Getting to Yes.” Interest-based negotiation asks people to ascertain the interests beneath their positions. Interests can be satisfied in many different ways. Consequently, working with interests leads to many more options than positional bargaining. In addition, satisfying interests is psychologically much different than caving in to another person’s position. When we have satisfied both our interests and those with whom we are negotiating, we have joint sense of well-being and pride at jointly solving a problem. When we are forced to concede to another’s position, we feel coerced, frustrated and angry over our loss of autonomy.
Unfortunately, interest-based negotiating is not our default method of dealing with differences. Because we have been taught by example that coercion is expedient and efficient, we tend to use coercive negotiating techniques without thinking. We argue, threaten, promise, and wheedle to get our own way.
However, people skilled in interest-based negotiation tend to be superior in conflict resolution, are able to achieve satisfaction of their interests without acrimony, and are able to leave important relationships intact.
Sources for this article: Positions vs. Interests changingminds.org
Monday, October 17, 2011
The Opposition should Focus on Interests, Not Positions
Its sad that Uganda’s opposition is caught up in this vicious but avoidable conflict of positions impasse with a more powerful adversary when in fact there is ample empirical approaches on the web for an amicable solution to this impasse! Focus on Interests, Not Positions
Sphere: Related ContentWednesday, October 12, 2011
Uganda's Paternalistic leadership Burden!
The burden of paternalistic leadership( the implicit practice of entrusting the leadership of Uganda to only one fatherly figure rather than a periodic diverse pool of leadership talent turnovers ) will eventually work to the detriment of our democracy!
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
The Dichotomy of M7's rule in Uganda!
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
The Best Narrative of M7's Autocracy in Uganda
Tuesday, September 06, 2011
"Watered Down Democracy!"
There is an interesting article about the recent protests in Africa, in the July - September 2011 issue of Focus on Africa magazine, in which BBC Focus on Africa gathered "three thinkers in Cyberspace" to debate the ramifications of those protests. This included Uganda's managing director of the New Vision newspaper Mr. Robert Kabushenga whose opinions I found not suprising, but peculiar!
Focus on Africa is a subscription only magazine, so I cannot reproduce the entire article here. I will only highlight particular sections:
In a colomn by Ghana's vice president Mr John Dramani Mahama: there is the following quote: The hopes and aspirations of an entire nation are no longer invested in one individual"
Sphere: Related Content
Monday, September 05, 2011
M7's Democratic Masquerade !
Over extended stay in power is an untenable premise in a democracy. It can only be maintained through coercion & manipulation of the democratic process. Unchecked, it's bound to implode soon or later like we've witnessed in the middle east!
In Uganda, M7 continues to masquerade as a democratically elected leader when in fact he is a nuanced version of the middle east despots that have just fallen.
M7 has overseen the changing of the constitution that favored his stay in power.
He has basically perverted our democracy through patronage, largess, and violence against any group that demonstrates against his regime.
M7 recently compared Ugandan's fundamental right to demonstrate peacefully to rioters.
He has imprisoned opponents on trumped up charges.
Wednesday, March 02, 2011
The Unresolved imperative of Big-man Rule in Uganda!
The issue of Big-man Rule remains the unresolved democratic imperative in Uganda two years after Obama raised the issue on his first trip to Africa.
Even in Democratic countries with no term limits, M7's uninterrupted 25 year rule raises serious doubts about the means he has used to stay that long in power.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Mr. Young's advice for Uganda's opposition!
I like your suggestions Mr. Young, but you cannot dismiss the EU observer team conclusion that:
" the electoral process was marred by avoidable administrative and logistical failures which led to an unacceptable number of Ugandan citizens being disenfranchised. Furthermore, the power of incumbency was exercised to such an extent as to compromise severely the level playing field between the competing candidates and political parties.
First, we need some real fundamental changes in the electoral process & restore term limits.
Second, even if the opposition applied all of your ideas, M7's entrenched culture of clientelistic networks that is well documented in Professor Aili Mari Tripp's book leaves the opposition at such a disadvantage in Uganda much as it did in a nuanced way in Egypt for Mubarak or any other despot.
Third the electoral commission & it's chairman should be under the control of all stake holders and not the whims of the president.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Uganda’s elections marred by avoidable failures
By
and High Representative | Daily Monitor February 22 2011
Click this link to check out the interim report by the EAC-COMESA & IGAD observer team!
The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) has been present in Uganda since January 15 following an invitation from the government of Uganda and the Electoral Commission. The EU EOM is led by Edward Scicluna, Member of the European Parliament. The EU EOM deployed 120 observers from 27 EU member states and Norway.
The observers were deployed throughout Uganda to observe and assess the electoral process in accordance with international and regional standards for elections. The EU EOM was joined by a four-member delegation from the European Parliament, led by Joachim Zeller, Member of the European Parliament, which endorses this preliminary statement.
On Election Day, observers visited 643 polling stations and district tallying centres in all the Districts of Uganda to observe voting, counting and the tabulation of results. The EU EOM will remain in country to observe postelection developments. This statement is preliminary; a final report including recommendations for future elections will be published in May 2011. The EU EOM is independent in its findings and conclusions.
Preliminary conclusions
The 2011 Ugandan general elections showed some improvements over the previous elections held in 2006. However, the electoral process was marred by avoidable administrative and logistical failures which led to an unacceptable number of Ugandan citizens being disenfranchised. Furthermore, the power of incumbency was exercised to such an extent as to compromise severely the level playing field between the competing candidates and political parties.
Notwithstanding a number of incidents of violence and intimidation, especially on Election Day, the electoral campaign and polling day were conducted in a peaceful manner. Restraint in campaign rhetoric as well as a generally improved performance by the Ugandan police force contributed to this.
The lack of trust by stakeholders in the fundamental building blocks of the electoral process, namely in the Electoral Commission itself and the National Voter Register, dominated debate at the expense of policy issues, which would normally be at the centre of an election campaign and led to a breakdown of effective communication between the Electoral Commission and many of the stakeholders.
The Electoral Commission is to be commended for meeting best international practice by publishing election results polling station by polling station, which ensures full transparency as well as greater confidence and trust in the results for Uganda’s citizens.
The introduction of electronic transmission of results from district tally centres to the National Tally Centre marked a further improvement. In a further effort to improve transparency and confidence, the Electoral Commission arranged for political party representatives to join Electoral Commissioners in overseeing the printing of presidential and parliamentary ballot papers.
Uganda’s legal framework establishes comprehensive and detailed electoral provisions which provide a workable foundation for the conduct of elections, generally in line with Uganda’s international commitments and obligations. Recent amendments to the Election Acts provide for additional safeguards against electoral offences, but they have addressed neither the main concerns of most national stakeholders, nor the core recommendations of the 2006 EU EOM, such as reform of the Electoral Commissioners’ appointment process.
The campaign was conducted in a fairly open and free environment, in which the freedoms of expression, assembly and association were generally respected. Candidates and parties campaigned intensively, and were mostly able to move freely throughout the country. The distribution of money and gifts by candidates, especially from the ruling party, a practice inconsistent with democratic principles, was widely observed by EU EOM observers.
Citizens, candidates and parties have frequently sought recourse to the courts to resolve critical issues concerning the applicable legal and constitutional framework with regard to elections. Despite being under-resourced, the courts have demonstrated a considerable degree of independence in upholding the rule of law and respect for human rights. The higher courts’ decisions frequently cite international law and precedent, including jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights.
Although the police issued repeated warnings against election-related protests, it is regrettable that no significant effort was undertaken by any state body to educate the public about electoral malpractices and the criminal sanctions they attract. Such failure is prone to instil a sense of impunity.
The state-owned broadcaster, Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC), failed to comply with its legal obligations to treat each presidential and parliamentary candidate equally, with its television channel giving the incumbent president and the ruling NRM party substantially more coverage than their nearest rivals.
The government’s dominance of state-owned radio, the only broadcasting network covering almost all areas of the country, was not balanced by private radio stations established outside the capital, which generally provided opposition candidates with very limited access.
Baroness Ashton is EU Vice President
and High Representative
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Saturday, February 05, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
I STILL HAVE A DREAM FOR UGANDA!
Monday January, 16th 2011 is a Federal holiday in the USA in honor of the late Civil Rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The Day is observed on the third Monday of January - around the time of Dr. Kings birthday of January 15th.
Born in 1929 and assassinated on April 4th, 1968, at the tender age of 39; Dr. King would have been 83 years old today.
Every year on this day, Americans and the world are reminded particularly of Dr. Kings most famous speech: “I Have A Dream”, in which he challenged Americans especially those in power to live up to the true meaning of the country’s creed: “We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal.”
“I Have A Dream “ speech continues to resonate throughout the world today for all freedom loving people and especially more so for Ugandans yearning to shake the shackles of one man rule.
In a humble Ugandan rendition version of Dr. Kings speech, I like to say to all Ugandans of good conscious to dare to have a dream also.
That Uganda can live up to the true meaning of its democracy and have the courage to embrace diversity in leadership the next presidential election. And bring an end to the culture overextended Big man Rule.
That small Ugandan children of every tribe and background can grow up to realize the true potential of our diversity in leadership talent rather than than the stifling and marginalizing scourge of one man rule.
And if Uganda is to be a great nation this must become true!
And when this happens, when we allow free & fair elections to prevail, when we let it prevail from every village and every county, from every district and every town, we will be able to speed up that day when all of Uganda’s God's children of every tribe, bush war heros and none bush war heros, Protestants, Muslims, Catholics, or non believers will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the late Dr. Kings old Negro spiritual: "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Vote For Diversity in Leadership on February 18th!
The future of the most prosperous nations belongs to those states that embrace diversity in leadership rather than the culture and bigotry of one man rule.
Vote for a new generation of leadership in Uganda that will inspire the fullest potential of our diversity and not the anachronistic & stifling oligarchy of one man rule!
Vote to End Big Man Rule once and for all in Uganda! Sphere: Related Content
