Uganda@50

 

FOWODE E-NEWS  

12th – 16th, January 2015

♀ CREATING A FUTURE OF PROMISE AND PROSPERITY

♀ ACTION 2015: AN OPEN LETTER TO WORLD LEADERS

♀ GENDER AND GOVERNANCE NEWS THAT MADE HEADLINES

FOWODE E-NEWS, P.O BOX 7176, Kampala Uganda | Plot 15 Vubya Close, Ntinda Nakawa Rd.

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Forum for Women in Democracy represented by Executive director Patricia Munabi joined the rest of Uganda’s civil society to pass on the 2015 New Year’s message. She through our community radio station Speak FM, passed on the message to the people of Northern Uganda. The message recapped the milestones, major fault-lines of 2014, aspirations and commitments for 2015. In 2014, momentum and consensus on the need for Free and Fair Elections was gathered, this year saw “one of the most formidable citizens’ efforts towards building the momentum to advocate for free and fair elections in Uganda.

Milestones

Civil society did not relent in the campaign against theft of public funds. The Black Monday Movement sustained the campaign against theft of public resources. The overall objective of the Black Monday Movement is to mobilize citizens to mount a sustained assault against the injustice of corruption. The Black Monday Movement’s flagship newsletter has gone far and wide and mobilization of citizens through popular music and other types of popular forms of communication represents an unrelenting effort that is keeping the fight against corruption a major issue in the development terrain. We are proud to say that in March, during the women’s month, we spear headed the production of the black Monday newsletter and we continue to put on black every Monday.

Key to note is that Uganda in 2014 was that Uganda assumed the Presidency of the UN General Assembly. This is an achievement that should be celebrated by all Ugandans and more so because it puts our country in a driving seats to shape the post-2015 global development agenda. The opposition to our candidate assuming that position taught Ugandans that individual consequences have consequences and that living a life of honesty and integrity has value for us as individuals but also for our country.

In 2014, citizens continue to speak out on actions to shape political and economic future of the county. Several Young people across the country expressed concerns about the fact that many of them were unemployed and they demanded that the government listens and takes actions. Within civil society, there was also the recognition that it is no longer tenable to expect politicians to be the only ones to continue defining the future of Uganda. The Citizen Manifesto, the Youth Roadmap to 2016, the Women’s Agenda 2016 and several other initiatives must thus be celebrated and encouraged for heightened engagement of citizens as the true expression of the resolve and commitment by each one of us to build a better Uganda.

Major Fault lines

Even as achievements were being celebrated, Civil society acknowledged that there were a number of challenges that we must not loose sight of, knowing these will held shape the future.

Crisis of Institutions: Uganda in 2014 saw a further slide back in key institutional performance. For a second year running, we saw the Judiciary straddle without a substantive Chief Justice, The Parliament consistently failed to raise quorum but also passed some of the most anti-civil liberties legislation. The infighting within the major political and generally the absence of internal democracy among our political parties clearly undermine their emergence as important pillars of our democracy. The deployment of all the military assets of the country: the special forces, the regular forces, all the elements of the Uganda police force, and the RDCs to secure the delegates conference of the ruling party and the associated cost on the Ugandan taxpayer raises fundamental questions as to the character of the ruling party and its apparent fusion with the state.

The Continued theft of public funds, The Office of the Auditor General and other accountability agencies have tried to lead the fight against the theft from the taxpaying public; Mukono-Katosi Road or the Standard Gauge Railway is clear evidence of lack of political will on the part of the executive to confront the cancer of corruption.

Assault on Freedom of Association and Expression, where Disagreements within parties and other institutions were met with threats and isolation and intolerance was evident. The break-up of some meetings especially up country convened by political parties especially in the opposition reminded us of the dark times in Uganda’s history.

Youth unemployment continued to bit hard in 2014, yet the Government continued to give cash handouts and other patronage programmes that can only provide short-term solutions and postpone the problem.

Increasing militarization of society, no matter the justifications by Government, the increasing militarization of every aspect of our public life is a major fault line that will impact significantly on our future as a country. Over the last three years, we have seen the military take over the command of the Uganda Police Force and the tdelivery of agricultural extension services; the Constitution Square has become a no go area for the public, while the Kololo ceremonial grounds have been nearly turned into a military garrison. The clear diversion of our security forces from the basic constitutional mandate is a troubling development.

Re-affirm that the Citizen is Central: As we pointed out in 2014, citizens in Uganda have for long faced situations of civic deficiency. Promoting countrywide awareness campaigns of the necessary electoral reforms, advocating for parliament to adopt the reforms and consider them in discussion of electoral management and implementing all actions as stipulated in the compact

Engaging with citizens on the question of transition especially that Uganda has had one president for over 28 years now. As tha anxiety over this question rises, discussions should not be delayed.

Reclaiming the integrity of institutions. Even as the country faces a major institution crisis, the Civil Society acknowledges that a strong, credible and accountable state institutions. There is therefor need for separation of powers and institutional development of three arms of government; Parliament, Judiciary and the Executive, so this year hopefully will see a new chief justice appointed in the first quarter of 2015.

CREATING A FUTURE OF PROMISE AND PROSPERITY

A  2015  YEAR  MESSAGE  FROM  CIVIL  SOCIETY    

As  the  campaign  launches,  some  of  the  worlds  most  influential  and  concerned  citizens  have  come  together  to  call  on  our  leaders  to  make  the  right  decisions  and  take  the  right  path  in  the  year  ahead. Open Letter to World Leaders Dear World Leaders, Cc: Everyone else There are moments in history that become turning points. In our view, 2015 will be such a moment. It is the most important year for global decision-making since the start of the new millennium. We believe it’s just possible that we could end 2015 with a new global compact an agreed pathway to a better, safer future for people and planet that will inspire all the citizens of the world. We can choose the path of sustainable development. Or we might not and regret it for generations to come. Which side of history will you be on? There are millions of voices you can’t afford to ignore the voices of the people you represent. They are voices of all ages from every corner of the planet the voice of a young girl currently deprived an education... of a pregnant mother deprived healthcare... of young people deprived decent work... of a family from a minority group fearful of discrimination from corrupt officials... of farmers forced to migrate to cities as climate refugees... and of billions of other people. Their voices will roar ever louder against the inequality and injustice that keep people poor. They and all who stand with them are calling on you to come up with a grand new global contract for our one human family and then deliver on it together. The great news is that in 2015 you have a historic chance to do just that. Two critical United Nations summits will take place this year. The first in September, where the world must agree new goals to eradicate extreme poverty, tackle inequality and ensure a more sustainable planet. The second is the climate summit in December where we must ensure the wellbeing of people today doesn’t come at the expense of our children’s futures. Together with critical discussions on financing, these opportunities are the biggest of our lifetime. We know from past efforts against AIDS, malaria, preventable diseases and saving the ozone layer that when we come together, so much can be achieved. Yet, with just months to go before these summits, few leaders are playing the leadership roles we need. We see climate progress but not yet of the scale that is needed, and a set of goals that are hugely ambitious but will be meaningless without brave financing and implementation agreements led from the very top. If this does not change, we fear you and your fellow leaders could be sleep walking the world towards one of the greatest failures of recent history. It’s not too late to rise to the occasion. We’re asking you to help lead that change. Let’s be clear: the actions we take in 2015 will decide which way the world turns for decades to come. Please take the right path. Yours Aamir Khan, Actor & campaigner Angelique Kidjo Singer songwriter & activist , Annie Lennox OBE, musician & activist , Ben Affleck Actor, Filmmaker & Founder of Eastern Congo Initiative ,Bill Gates, Co Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Bono, Lead singer of U2 & cofounder of ONE and (RED) −Dbanj Musician & activist , Emeritus Archbishop Desmond Tutu, −Gro Harlem Brundtland, Former Prime Minister, Norway Hugh Jackman Actor Kid President –Brad Montague & Robby Novak −Prof Jeffrey Sachs , Director of the Earth Institute & author of The Age of Sustainable Development Jimmy Wales, Founder of Wikipedia −Jody Williams, 1997 Nobel Peace Laureate & Chair of Nobel Women’s Initiative −José Padilha, Film Director −Leymah Gbowe, 2011 Nobel Peace Laureate −Malala Yousafzai, Co- Founder of the Malala Fund & 2014 Nobel Peace Laureate −Mary Robinson, President, Mary Robinson Fou ndation Climate Justice −Matt Damon , Actor & Founder of Water.org Melinda Gates , Co Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Mia Farrow, Actor & activist −Mo Ibrahim Philanthropist & campaigner Muhammad Yunus , 2006 Nobel Peace Laureate Queen Rania Al Abdullah, Richard Branson , Founder of the Virgin Group Ricken Patel , President and Executive Director of Avaaz Shakira singer songwriter, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Sharan Burrow, General Secretary of the nternational Trade Union Confederation Sting, Musician, singer, songwriter, and activist−TedTurner Chairman, United Nations Foundation Wagner Moura , Actor Yvonne Chaka Chaka President of the Princess of Africa Foundation

Police Clobber Ugandan Journalists WBS Journalists Andrew Lwanga beaten near death by Old Kampala DPC Joram mwesigye. The DPC was later suspended and detained.

See more http://chimpreports.com/photos-police-clobber-ugandan-journalists/

Opposition are like Panadol- Tadwong Busia. As campaigns for the by elections for the Busia District chairperson hot up, Mr Richard Todwong, the deputy Secretary General of the ruling National Resistance movement (NRM) has compared the Opposition alliance to Panadol, the tablet which only relieves pain but cannot cure the disease. He said the Opposition were busy telling lies to the people in Busia that they had solutions to their problems when they know they do not have any redress

See more at http://bit.ly/1541vV3

Elections can’t oust Museveni – Research A new book authored by political scientists backs Col Kizza Besigye’s view that it is impossible to oust President Museveni through elections he organises and controls. Titled Elections In A Hybrid Regime: Revisiting The 2011 Ugandan Polls, the book by local and international researchers comes to the conclusion that an election is unlikely to cause political change or bring about democratisation in Uganda under the current circumstances.

See more at http://bit.ly/1zmpF9Z

Boko Haram killed woman in labour: Amnesty. 'Rules' area larger than Rwanda, Gambia, Comoros combined

BOKO Haram fighters killed a woman as she was in labour during what is feared to be the deadliest attack in the militants’ six-year insurgency, Amnesty International claimed on Thursday. The human rights group said one witness to the assault on Baga, on the shores of Lake Chad in northeast Nigeria, told them the woman was shot by indiscriminate fire that also cut down small children.

See more http://mgafrica.com/article/2015-01-15-boko-haram-killed-woman-in-labour-during-attack-amnesty/

Gender and Governance News that made headlines this week

Governance and Gender News Making Headlines

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