Advocacy for Federalism in Uganda
E-mail: Advocacy@federo.com
The Editor, New Vision
Kampala
Ref.: Federalism will unite the country
We are writing in response to an unsigned commentary in the New Vision of January 24, 2001 entitled “Federo will isolate all its followers from progress - Royal and religious leadership are not lulled by talk on this kind of governance”. The article contained several misleading generalizations. We hope you will publish this letter to clear any misconceptions regarding federalism in Uganda.
We are a group of like-minded Ugandans who are vigorously advocating for federalism in Uganda in the new Millennium. We are gratified that all Presidential candidates acknowledge the voices of their fellow Ugandans who wish to return to the federal form of governance. Aware that no candidate had spelt out the kind of federalism they were talking about, we wrote an open letter to the presidential candidates and copied to the Press in Uganda, including the New Vision. To our knowledge that letter was neither acknowledged nor published by any of the local press in Uganda. We were alarmed to read the views expressed in an unsigned commentary in the New Vision. We wish to respond to the erroneous views presented in that article.We are not advocating for the semi-federal status for Buganda alone, but rather full-scale federalism throughout Uganda. It was Hegel who said, "Freedom is the recognition of necessity". In Uganda today, the most important aspect of necessity that we must now recognise as the Presidential candidates have done, is the necessity to abandon the current unitary model of governance. Nothing short of full scale federalism can rescue Ugandans from the misery of unitarism. Given our country's history, many of us are tempted to argue for a conscience and responsible government. We believe that the only way we can preserve and nurture other and more precious freedoms is by abandoning the unitary model of governance, and the sooner we do that the better. We plan to reveal to Ugandans through education and the Press, the necessity of abandoning the centre so we can put an end to this aspect of the "tragedy of unitarism".
The federalism we advocate for will not favour any region over the rest, but rather treat all regions equally irrespective of size and wealth. The article mentioned the state of Delaware having the same number of senators with Texas. While Delaware is neither the smallest nor the poorest, it does have two senators like California, the largest and richest state in the USA.
We federalists recognise that if we were to have two chambers in Uganda, something we propose, representation in the lower chamber (lower house/parliament) will be based on proportional representation. Buganda will for example have more members in the lower chamber than Karamoja. While the number of representatives will be fixed, regions may lose or gain seats depending on the results of the decennial census, something we hope can be endorsed by the national conference. In the upper chamber (senate), however, all regions/states will be equally represented irrespective of size and wealth. Accordingly, Buganda and Karamoja will elect an equal number of senators - a number to be determined by the national conference. To wit, we are advocating for an equal, elected, and effective senate/upper chamber. This is our model and we hope all regions will embrace it as equal partners rather than adversaries in the Uganda federation. We argue that equal representation should be constitutionally guaranteed and fixed. Clearly, the federalism we have in mind is far from what your commentator had in mind. Your commentary is about semi-federalism in selected regions of the country, something the presidential candidates and Buganda do not embrace. We embrace full-scale federalism for Uganda, in which we are to have a more efficient, equitable and fair distribution of resources. We request you set the record on federalism straight.
Signed
Ms. Christine Nabukeera F. N. Lugemwa, Ph.D.cnabukee@chat.carleton.ca lugemwafn@yahoo.com
Interim Chairperson Interim secretary
For Advocacy For Advocacy
cc:
Mr. Aggrey Awori
Col. (rtd) Dr. Kizza Besigye
Mr. Francis Bwengye
Mr. Chaapa Karuhanga
Mr. Mohammed Kibirige Mayanja
H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni
Mr. Charles Ssenkubuge
Dr. Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere, DP President
Mzee Boniface Byanyima, DP Chairman
DP USA Office
Prof. Lugira, DP USA Office
Mr. Lawrence Mukasa, DP USA Publicity Secretary
Mr. Chris Opoka-Okumu, UPC Canada Office
Mr. Mulwanyamuli Ssemogerere, Katikkiro of Buganda, Mmengo
Mr. Rwashid Kazairwe, Bunyoro-Kitara, Hoima
Hon. Ken Lukyamuzi, MP, Kampala
Hon. Norbert Mao, MP, Kampala
Hon. Miria Matembe, MP, Kampala
Hon. John Nasasira, MP, Kampala
Hon. Dr. Rukahana Rugunda, MP, Kampala
Hon. Eriya Kategaya, MP, Kampala
Hon. J. Ssendawula, MP, Kampala
Hon. Winnie Byanyima, MP, Kampala
Mr. Charles Onyango-Obbo, Editor, The Monitor, Kampala
Mr. Andrew Pike, Chairman, New Vision, Kampala
Mr. Gehard Schröder, German Chancellor, Berlin
Mr. Edmund Stoiber, Governor Free State of Bayern, Munich
Mrs. Klaudia Grabisch, Government North Rhine Westphalia, Düsseldorf
Dr. Thomas Knirsch, Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Kampala
Ms. Nicole Wyrsch, Embassy of Switzerland, Nairobi
Mr. Frieder von Sass, Friedrich Naumann Foundation, Dar es Salam
Mr. Japhes Mukiibi-Biimbwa, MS Uganda, Kampala
Mr. Fritz Kopsieker, Friedrich Ebert Foundation, Kampala
Foundation For African Development, Kampala
Mr. Kiggundu Mukasa, UgandaNet
Mr. M. Kibuka, Federo Discussion Group
Mr. James Ssemakula, BugandaNet
AcholiNet, c/o Ochan Otim
JapNet, c/o Mr. JMC Akanga
UPCNet, c/o Mr. George Okurapa
Ugandan Parliament, Kampala
German Parliament, Berlin
German Embassy, Kampala
Uganda Rep at UN, New York
UK Rep at UN, New York
Belgian Rep at UN, New York
French Rep at UN, New York
US Embassy, Kampala
CBS Radio, Kampala
Simba Radio, Kampala
Radio One, Kampala
