Statement In Reply to the State of The Nation Address 2006

Rt. Hon. Speaker Sir
Rt. Hon. Prime Minister and Leader of Government Business
Party Whips
Hon. Ministers, and Hon. Members.

On the 8th June 2006, on a very historic day, H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the President of Uganda, delivered the First State of the Nation Address to the first bi-cameral Parliament of Uganda since the promulgation of our 1995 Constitution. Coincidentally, the 8th of June was also the State Opening of the 8th Parliament.

Today, as Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, I am greatly honoured and humbled to be opening the Parliamentary Debate on that State of the Nation Address.

Rt. Hon. Speaker, after so many years of demonizing multiparty politics in Uganda by the National Resistance Movement (NRM), the whole country is now watching us. Against the background of negative propaganda, it is so easy for Ugandans to misunderstand the role of the Opposition in Parliament, and to even treat the Opposition as enemies of the State. It is therefore most important for Ugandans to know, understand and appreciate the role of the Opposition in Parliament, and what we all must do to entrench freedom and multiparty democracy in our country.

Hon. Speaker, the 2003 Official Yearbook of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland at page 47 has this to say on the role of the Opposition in a Multiparty Parliament, and I quote:-

"The effectiveness of the party system in Parliament relies to large extent on the relationship between the government and the opposition parties. Depending on the relative strength of the parties in the house, the opposition may try to overthrow the government by defeating it on a matter of confidence vote. In general, however, the opposition aims to contribute to the formulation of policy and legislation by constructive criticism; to oppose government proposals with which it disagrees, to table amendments to government bills and to put forward its own policies in order to improve its chances of winning the next general elections"..

Hon. Speaker and Hon. Members, we in the Opposition understand the fear that the expression "try to overthrow the government" quoted above sends down the spines of Ugandans, given our brutal history of political misadventure.

We therefore would like to assure Ugandans and the international community and hereby solemnly affirm, in spite of unjustifiable court actions against our leaders and members and portrayal of the Opposition and our leaders in bad lights, that we, in this August House and as parties in the public domain, are nationalists, peace loving, patriotic, faithful to our country and Constitution, loyal, law abiding, accountable and a truly responsible Opposition.

make our contributions without fear or favour, and in full confidence of the facts that the 2 country understands and supports us regardless of what was declared as the outcome of the last General Elections.

Hon. Speaker, allow me now to turn to the President's address to Parliament. Firstly, we congratulate H.E. the President for the State of the Nation Address. More importantly, we congratulate and applaud the President for the jovial and positive way with which he delivered his address in spite of the apparent physical discomfort that he seemed to suffer at the time. We also appreciate and thank the President for the formal recognition he accorded the Leader of the Opposition and to the role of the Opposition in bringing balance to our politics and governance. This is the way to go for our country.

Hon Members, we also join the President in congratulating the Rt. Hon. Speaker and the Rt. Hon. Deputy Speaker of Parliament, the Vice President, the Prime Minister and all of us who now constitute the membership of the Eight Parliament of Uganda. It is the hope and prayer of the Opposition that, together, we shall make a difference to this our beloved country.

Hon. Members, the first State of the Nation Address in the life of any government is an important indication of how it intends to govern. In ordinary circumstances, it attracts public interests and maximum response from the media and general public. We therefore were most alarmed at the response of the newspapers the following day to the President's address.

As you all may have seen, both the government-owned The New Vision and the independent The Daily Monitor newspapers carries soccer World Cup news on their from pages and one made very small references to the speech of the President deep inside its pages. What message did this give the people, we ask?

Hon Members, was this ignorance on the part of the media? Has the World Cup become more important than the affairs of our country? Was this a case of familiarity breeding the usual contempt? Or was this not a most damning manifestation of how the country now views his H.E. President Museveni and his explanations and promises?

Having reached this far with our people and media, we the Opposition feel roundly vindicated on our well intentioned argument during the last Presidential Election, that both the country and the President were tired, and that Yoweri Museveni's earliest honourable retirement was in his own best interest and the best interest of the country. We hope that the President will seize the next opportunity in 2011 to honourably retire and to free the country to move on.

Honorable Speaker, the President in his introductory remarks also made important references to the last General Elections and the growth of democracy in the country generally. Significantly, the President had this to say and I quote "This is the first time that we have had both the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections held on the same day. Elections have also been held for the Local Government at the various levels and the exercise has been well conducted", end of quote.

Hon. Members, we in the Opposition took keen note of the fact that the President carefully avoided offering judgment on the conduct of the Presidential and Parliamentary elections. To us, this silence is a glaring and loud admission that all was not well with these two elections.

Hon. Speaker, we remember with great pain, distress, agony, humiliation and fear the brutal, reckless and highly provocative arrest of the FDC leader, Col. (Rt.) Dr. Kizza Besigye, and Opposition supporters and their subsequent arraignment in courts, including the General Court Martial, on clearly fabricated charges. We also remind the House of the unanimous verdict of the Supreme Court, upon our petition, on the failures of the Electoral Commission, the wanton use of violence by State agents, and the massive rigging that took place during the last Presidential Election.

all know that no other elections have been so ill managed by the Electoral Commission and the State of these ones. In Pader District, for instance election, materials arrived at polling stations between 1:00 and 2:00pm, yet the elections were allowed to go on. The absurd explanation given by the Electoral Commission was that the materials arrived late at Karuma Bridge, and they could not be escorted overnight by the UPDF.

Massive failures of the Electoral Commission were also recorded throughout the country. Were these failures not a deliberate strategy to subvert the electoral process and rig the elections where the Opposition was strong?

Hon Speaker, over the next five years we must together do all that it takes to end the abuse of the electoral processes, and to create a free and level playing field for all political actors. As a start, Parliament must investigate the conduct of the last elections and this time it must debate its report and demand specific actions from Government. It must also ensure that electoral laws are passed early enough, and adequate funds provided to the Electoral Commission, and on time.

We the Opposition shall support Government in ensuring these reforms, and shall use all means within the law to advocate for the needed reforms. In particular, we shall pursue amendments to the Constitution to ensure fair representation of parties in the Electoral Commission, and the complete independence of the Commission.

The Political Scene

On the political scene, we agree entirely with the president in his exposition on the question of individual who stood as independents. We particularly applaud him for recognizing the challenges generated by the phenomenon of independents candidates in the multiparty system, and the need to address the challengers.

We also entirely agree with the president that: "now that the arms of Government are all in place, it is time for all of us to settle down and work for the good of the country", and further applaud his call for all to end politicking and forge unity and good leadership so that our people may realize their economic and social aspirations. The President having quoted the bible and preached religiously on this matter, we can only humbly add that let the President put into practice that which he has preached.

To walk the talk and to demonstrate good will, we urge the President to: (i) immediately discontinue all court proceedings against Col. (Rt.) Dr. Kizza Besigye and other Opposition supporters, that we believe and know were politically motivated and were intended to disorganize the Opposition and to undermine the participation of Dr. Besigye in the last presidential election; (ii) end arbitrary arrest, illegal death detention in safehouses and inhuman torture of the Opposition as exemplified by the case reported in the media yesterday; and (iii) end any partisan victimization of civil servants, the Police and Security Personnel who hold personal views by rights bestowed upon them by the Constitution.

Our pledge to the country is that once the above is done the President can demand of us whatever we the Opposition must do to ensure national harmony and peaceful democratic progress. We assure you he will not find us wanting.

Honourable Speaker, the other matter in this area that is highly contentious and of grave concern to the country is the Kyankwanzi NRM Political School. Although the President was at pains to justify its present status, even citing article 17 (2) on the duty of Ugandans to undergo military training and of the State to provide needed facilities for that purpose, what is going on at Kyankwanzi is totally unacceptable.

We roundly condemn the current situation whereby members of the UPDF and Uganda Police Force, who are required by the Constitution to be non-partisan, are being subjected to the same political indoctrination under the tutelage of the same politically jaundiced NRM instructors that so crudely spread the anti-parties propaganda of the Movement over the years. We demand an end to any further training at the School until its status, curricula and staffing are sorted out. If need be we shall take appropriate court action in support of this demand.

Constitutionalism and the Rule of Law

Honourable Speaker, we welcome the declaration of H.E. the President on upholding constitutionalism and the rule of law, and the call for us all to promote the same among our people. We however reject any insinuation that the Opposition have not played their part in this regard.

Honourable Members, constitutionalism and the rule of law cannot be upheld and promoted by mere utterances. In all electoral disputes, we the Opposition always resorted to court action unlike those who found justice in going to the bush. We are also reminded of the constitutional amendments of the Seventh Parliament whereby Members, in spite swearing to uphold and protect the Constitution, made key amendments including the "Kisanja" amendments against the wishes of the population; and, like Judas, in exchange for mere pieces of silver.

On our part, we commit ourselves to doing all in our power to uphold and protect the Constitution against any further manipulation for self interest, including amending the age limits for President. We shall however strive for and support amendments that strengthen the Constitution and protect our people against adverse individual or group interests.

Security

Honourable Speaker, we support the country spending adequately on defence, but this cannot mean unbalanced spending bridled with corruption. Instead of the fire-fighting and obstinacy approach of the NRM, we in the Opposition favour defence spending that is nested in sound foreign and domestic policies; that recognizes both the short and long-term needs of the country; and that seeks a rational balance in commitment between the services and productive sectors.

Hon. Members, we recognize the marked improvement in the security situation in Northern and Eastern Uganda in respect to the brutal LRA rebellion. We abhor the long suffering of the people, condemn the brutality meted out on the people, and regret the many opportunities missed to bring the conflict to an end through peaceful means.

In this regard, we implore Government not to tire with seeking peace so that our brothers and sisters in the North may finally see peace and regain normalcy in their lives. We have postured too long about our might and capacity, and we have set too many datelines. The people have suffered enough: let this conflict end permanently.

Hon. Speaker, we also recognize that Government has put in place many infrastructures in the war affected areas of Northern and Eastern Uganda. In the face of conflict, the priorities were clearly different. We therefore regret the fact that, for years, Government did not reallocate funds budgeted for the conflict areas to meet their real priorities, and that people continued to suffer needlessly when funds meant for them were returned to the treasury at the end of each financial year.

We hope and pray that once peace returns the budget for the war afflicted areas will not be treated and appropriated in the same format and proportions as those for other parts of the country that have enjoyed peace for all these years. Let no selfishness or desire to punish those who did not support us stand between our humanity and the national imperative to support our desperate and most needy people in Northern and Eastern Uganda.

On the question of resettlement of the people from IDP camps, we unreservedly support the return of people to their homes, and acknowledge all the support given them to do so. We however advocate for constructive engagement between the Government and the people and their leaders to avoid politicization of the process and creation of suspicion that undermine harmony and cohesion. We offer to be effective and equal partners in this process.

On the issue of Karimajong cattle rustling, we beg to disagree with the President's assertion that "that is a simple problem" because the gun is not the problem. The bigger problem of Karamoja is the lack of a comprehensive strategy and holistic approach to addressing the issues of development, geographical and socio-economic isolation, decline and neglect, and failure of the State to address the water and pasture crises, to promote settled agriculture, and to provide adequate security and protection in the Region to individuals and their cattle.

Over the next five years, we shall push Government to end the rhetoric and sweet-talk, and the strong arm approach, and present to the country a comprehensive restoration and development agenda for Karamoja in line with our proposal contained in the FDC Party Platform. We shall advocate for adequate cross-border roads, placement of soldiers in strategic locations, and promotion of closer interaction and positive economic engagement to bring the Karamojong and all their neighbours together in peace and mutual development.

Economy

On the economy, Honourable Speaker, we would like to firmly assert that the challenges facing the country were clearly downplayed by the President. May be the real challenges facing our economy, linked to the energy crisis, has not been clearly presented to him; may be the President is a perpetual optimist.

It is however most unfortunate, Hon. Members, that the President continues to blame his Government's failure to construct Bujagali Dam on the Opposition and the Sixth Parliament, when this was clearly a matter of poor planning and a failed policy. Blaming someone else is probably understandable, given the Presidents constant assertion that the NRM never makes mistakes. But Members of the Sixth Parliament probably saved the country from the worst catastrophe. Firstly, their insistence unmasked AES, the USA company whose leaders were doctoring their accounts and which subsequently collapsed in a heap of financial scandal. AES would have collapsed with Bujagali and our money too.

Secondly, the efforts by Parliament unmasked the Power Purchase Agreement between AES and the Government that set very high tariff for the Bujagali electricity, and required Government to guarantee the water flow levels for the Dam. Clearly, AES knew that thesecond dam at Jinja, and not drought, would drain Lake Victoria. Instead of warning Government, AES sought a guarantee of their income even when they would supply air!

Hon. Speaker, as the Opposition, let no one doubt our commitment to seeing the country fully exploit the hydropower potential that we have, for herein lies our comparative advantage over other countries in Eastern Africa. However, it is our responsibility to alert the country, advise Government and advocate for the best alternatives. Our motivation is not to block the building of any power dam.

The President has assured the country that his Government will build Bujagali and Karuma power stations in the next 44 months or so. This is a daunting commitment with numerous challenges that must be addressed.

Honourable Members, the insistence on building Bujagali dam is strange. Construction of a dam at Bujagali poses two great risks to the country. Firstly, lower outflow of water from Lake Victoria will affect Bujagali dam output as much as it now affects Kiira and Nalubaale Dams. Secondly concentration of three dams in the same area, when recent studies have warned of the potential for future wars over water, is clearly non-strategic in security terms.

We must also consider the facts that building the dams elsewhere spreads development to other parts of the country situated along the River Nile, a thing that is good for generating a sense of ownership and belonging among our people. Given our heavy investment in hotels and tourism under CHOGM, saving the Bujagali rapids for white water rafting is critical for boosting tourism.

Even when Government talks about building Karuma and Bujagali, serious consideration must be given to the availability and transportation of cement and steel. Do we have adequate cement in the country to supply both the building industry and the dams? How will we transport materials to Karuma without a railway line from Gulu or Lira? Do we have the fleet of trucks necessary to transport by road? If yes, have we provided for their damage to the roads that they will use? Surely is 44 months a practical and honest target?

In our view instead of trying to build two dams in a rush, Government should first consider building a dam at Ayago South, with its 450MW potential, and if need be at Murchison Falls with its 650MW power potential.

Hon Speaker, the energy crisis took the President's eyes off the real economic challenges namely: (i) the need to shift away from dependence on donor resource inflows as a stimulus and even basis for development to building a sound national resource base, through enhancing production and productivity across the economic and social spectrum and sustained savings and investment, instead of the current wicked consumption; (ii) developing and implementing medium and long-term policies and programs for coherent national development with clear goals and targets; and (iii) putting real money in agriculture, agro-processing industries and rural development to address the question of poverty.

Unfortunately, there is little evidence from the President's address that this will be done by his Government. In the next five years, therefore, the Opposition shall take the lead in advocating for a shift in approach and resource allocation to address the needs of the peasants that the NRM so unashamedly prides itself of enjoying massive support of.

Social Sector

Honourable Speaker, in the social sector, we fully support the legal reforms now in place to protect workers. We however appeal that in future, to reflect the political diversity amongworkers that is now masked by the easily manipulated electoral college system, our laws be amended to provide for proportional representation of workers and other special interest groups in Parliament based on the share of votes obtained by a party at the Presidential Election.

In the education sector, our concern has been that our education system must be designed, supported and invested in, in an appropriately sequenced order that ensures effective human resource development.

Hon. Members, we do not seek to support our education for the sole purpose of having beautiful classrooms or numbers. No, it is not our interest if honourable Ben Etonu from Amuria joins the NRM because the classes he studied in were built in permanent structures by the Movement. Yes, it is our interest that another young son of Amuria studying in those classrooms can successfully pass his exams the way Etonu easily did in a grass thatched class room, earn a degree and become an MP or Minister just as Etonu did.

It is for the above reasons that in the next five years we shall advocate for: (i) the revival of effective training in primary schools whereby first grades are not confined only to private high-cost primary schools and those in Kampala but are equally obtained in rural areas; (ii) development of model secondary schools in all parts of the country that provide affordable opportunities to all Ugandans regardless of location and socio-economic base; (iii) intensive investments in technical training to truly prepare the country for industrial development; (iv) comprehensive rehabilitation and redevelopment of our tertiary institutions and universities as a basis for building our global competitiveness.

Honourable Speaker, our health sector has benefited from tremendous support from the international community. This support is critical to further improving the health of our people. We were therefore surprised that the President did not announce specific actions that he intended to take against those identified by the Justice Ogoola Commission to have mismanaged or corruptly eaten money from the Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. The whole world is watching us on this matter.

Corruption

Hon. Members, corruption in Uganda is the vampire that has sucked the blood of the poor dry. We are not convinced that Government is ready to act decisively on corruption, given the minuscule financial and material resources it allocates to the anti-corruption bodies or to back its words in general terms.

We nevertheless welcome Government moves to bring appropriate legislation to support the fight against corruption. At the political level, the Opposition shall continue to be vigorous whistle blowers whenever Government relaxes, attempts to hide, or fails to take action on corruption cases.

The Public Service

On the public service, we welcome the President's assurance that no list of civil servants have been drawn up for dismissal on account of their support for the Opposition. We however urge that the neutrality and nationalistic stance should be extended to recruitment into the civil service.

Hon. Members, we also oppose any recruitment based on cadreship as this has, under the NRM, been the smokescreen and conduit for sectarian recruitment into key sectors of the public service.
On pensions, Hon. Speaker, we are genuinely concerned that a large number of pensioners are not accessing their pensions. We have teachers who retired three to seven years ago who have not received their pensions. We have relatives of dead soldiers who for years have struggled to collect death gratuities and to support the children and families of our fallen heroes, but have struggled in vain. We have formal employees of the East African Community whose compensation money was diverted to other use by Government and are now suffering or have died without enjoying the fruits of their labour. Most importantly, we have accumulated pension arrears which at 30th June 2005 stood at 312.5 billion shillings and climbing. Yet each year Government provides less than 5 billion shillings to cover these arrears.

These are the matters that we talked about during the campaigns. Surely, Hon. Members, why must Ugandan pensioners suffer such neglect, and why must it become criminal for the Opposition to champion their plight? In the coming five years, we shall agitate, propose, push and cajole until the pension question is resolved.

Regional Co-operation

Hon. Speaker, on the matter of regional co-operation, we fully support the effort of Government, particularly in forging East African co-operation, ensuring total peace in the Great Lakes Region, and tackling the regional dimension of cattle-rustling and the gun culture in Karamoja.

We stand ready to join hands with all Ugandans, and all our brothers and sisters in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Congo and the Sudan, to ensure unity, peace and prosperity for all our people.

Commendation to the Seventh Parliament

As I conclude, allow me Hon. Speaker, to join H.E. the President in also extending the commendation of the Opposition in the 8th Parliament, and all our Party Leaders, to the 7th Parliament and the two of you who successfully led the 7th Parliament for a job well done.

However, while we commend the 7th Parliament for the oversight role it played in scrutinizing Government Accounts, loan proposals, the sale of Uganda Commercial Bank and Diary Corporation, the passing of many bills, and the advocacy for the people of Northern Uganda, we cannot help recalling with pain the removal of the term limits, which was the country's only guarantee against the personalization and any possible dynastization of the Presidency.

We assure you, Rt. Hon. Speaker, Hon. Members and all Ugandans that, at the earliest opportunity in the life of this Parliament, we shall definitely move a constitutional amendment to restore the two-term limits for the Presidency.

Finally, Hon. Speaker and dear Colleagues, we would like to assure you that, in all that we have said, we mean well for this country. We seek co-operation and mutual understanding, and not hostility and recrimination. We will extend our friendship to all and join hands with all, for the unity, peace and prosperity of our country and people.

Hon. Members, I thank you for giving me your full attention. God bless you all and thank you Rt. Hon. Speaker.

28 June 2006.