the Humanist view

I might as well inform you that for me the results of the next presidential election are a foregone conclusion and I really do not want to waste my time discussing them. What I am interested in are opinions, views, initiatives, which can transform the composition of parliament – such as the decision of H.E. Betty Kamya to focus on re-entering parliament as a Member of Parliament. So, unless it has potential for changing the power balance in parliament – more opposition members in parliament and of a superior quality – am not interested. A presidential candidate cannot change the power balance in parliament and for me a president with a minority in parliament is totally, well, toothless and will not change anything. So, I do not want to waste my time liking their face book pages or discussing their candidature or their fiction presidency, etc. I am also interested in initiatives that will result in changing the power balance at the grassroots level of LC 1 (village) especially – that is to say the holding of LC 1 elections under the multiparty dispensation. So, now that you know my interests, my dear face book friends, please do not disturb my concentration with invites to like pages of all presidential candidates and do not tag me into discussions of their fictional presidencies… THANK YOU AND MUCH LOVE. (Norah Owaraga, Face book, 16^th June 2015)

And so it came to pass that ‘no change’ prevailed in the 2016 elections.

I am interested in discourse which will change the power balance in Parliament and Local Councils.

Why is the wisdom eluding us of a grassroots change of the balance of power?

Sadly, Parliament has become even weaker – with lesser opposition members of parliament (in terms of number and substance), and with more ruling party members of parliament (majority of questionable substance).

Lower local council elections are still yet to be held and so the more than decade long violation of the Constitution continues. 

The mind boggles as to why many ‘democracy’ advocates and activities remain mum about this gross violation.

H. E. Betty Kamya, President of the Uganda Federal Alliance, one of the political parties, lost her election bid to return to Parliament.

BUT behold she is now a Government of Uganda Minister appointed by and serving under the ruling party. Yap, I did not see that one coming.