What happened to Article 29 (1)
(d) of the 1995 Ugandan Constitution- the freedom of assembly….Hmm. I thought
this right was God given and therefore inalienable.
Article 20[1] confirms this….. fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals
are inherent and not granted by the state…... the rights and freedoms of the
individual and groups enshrined in this Chapter four shall be respected,
upheld, and promoted by all organs and agencies of government and by all
persons”. Well I guess not anymore this that the Deputy Speaker of
Parliament Hon. Oulanya and a bunch of other opportunistic MPs chose to cut
this right short…. What has befallen my Country, what is happening to my once glorious, pro-people,
enthusiastic and focused ninth parliament..i wonder. I guess politicians will
always be politicians…you do what is best for you not your people at the moment
with less regard to later ….
Whereas our once adorable and
respected Constitution appears to be patriotic in aspiration and also appears
to conform to internationally accepted standards. The reality is
continuously becoming a different matter. First the lifting of term
limits, then involvement of the military in politics, then the appointment of
retired judicial officials, then the continued violent suppression, oppression
and blocking of peaceful demonstrations, shutting down of media
houses..wow..the list is endless and now BANG! the public order management bill!
After three months of acrimonious debate, Parliament Yesterday 06th Aug
2013 finally passed the controversial Bill, amid protests from opposition
members. Despite the plea from the Opposition leader Nandala Mafabi to halt the
discussion on the public order bill, he Jacob Oulanya shocked them with
information about the amendment of the day’s order paper to include debate on
the bill. Clearly this sparked anger amongst the MPs, forcing them to bang the clerk’s table, and warning him against proceeding
with the bill. While some critics condemn the rowdy behavior the
opposition MPs staged in Parliament..i feel compelled to salute them for
trying. I know one thing; radical situations call for radical measures..i am
sure the situation left them with no choice, not after trying to block it aware
of its effects on the citizens and activists. This moment I understand was so
painful and frustrating…seeing another setback being birthed and added on the
existing long list.
Well I know that the bill seeks to
regulate public meetings, for it specifies the duties and responsibilities of
the Police and the organizers and participants during public meetings, as well
as prescribes measures for safeguarding public order. It reads “A person shall notify the Inspector General of
Police (IGP) in writing about an intended demonstration or public meeting
within three days prior to the event. The IGP can also authorize a Police
officer to issue permission for a public meeting on his behalf on phone"
but I ask, is it worth it? Surely has it come to this? Do Ugandans; say a
group of students, a clan or family, a group of friends, or farmers that seek
to meet to plan for personal functions or catch up on old times need to go
through this bureaucratic, lame and creepy procedure because accordingly only
registered organizations or associations are exempted. Even though we all know
that the same exempted groups have even before this bill was passed been
frustrated and failed from assembling.
Clauses 7, 8, 9 and 10 give discretionary powers to the Police to
permit or disallow public meetings. Accordingly the clauses also mandate
organizers of public gatherings to notify the IGP in writing. Who on earth
stops people from assembling? Who knows what MAN will stop next, breathing or
talking, since walking was condemned already. Uganda, I Cry my beloved Country!…It
is no wonder that the bill has since its birth faced
criticism from both local and international human rights and civil society
organizations. Clearly Government is playing the role of a small god down
here.. no doubt it has birthed and introduced a Draconian law meant to curb
civil liberties…what a shame! I think I agree with the Buikwe South MP Hon. Michael Bayiga. He argues that passing this bill means restoring powers
of police to prohibit but not to regulate public gatherings – an issue he
describes as infringing on human rights. Well I couldn’t agree more, let alone
say it better than this.
Shame on you Jacob Oulanya, for rushing the bill. Ugandans
witnessed how insensitive you can be…OOOh how fast you put the matter to vote
and ruled even before the internal affairs Minister, Gen. Aronda Nyakairima, or
even his deputy James Baba could stand to present that controversial piece of
legislation for the third reading. And
how you even went ahead to congratulate the House for having successfully
passed the bill. For this I despise you
Hon. Oulanya Jacob!
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