Investigation into Imbalanced Human Rights Towards a Multi-Party System of Governance in Uganda Since 1986

ABSTRACT The study is an exploratory design carried out in Uganda, which sought to; examine the role of the various human rights defenders in promoting equality in multiparty governance in Uganda; to investigate the cause of human rights imbalances experienced in multiparty governance in Uganda since 1986; and examining the efficacy of the law in countering human rights imbalances in Uganda. The study relied on qualitative methods of data collection and analysis to generate data. Study findings reflected that, political and civil society organizations are significant in promoting the legitimacy of leadership and to create upward social mobility by bringing activists together in advocacy work and influencing of policies as well as stimulating participation in the consolidation of democracy hence promoting the rule of law. However, human rights imbalances continue to be suffered in the multiparty system of Uganda, the cause of which has been found to be; the absence of separation of powers and invasion of the judicial independence, limitations on the independence of the Human Rights Commission, inadequacies of the law, limiting equal media access, the ability to involve security agencies in suppressing peaceful demonstration. This is despite the fact that the judiciary has been entrusted with a greater role to promote and protect human rights; the constitutional provisions to promote free and fair elections by maintaining accurate voter records, and allowing for election observations; freedom of movement, speech and fair trials for all. The study concludes that without democracy and the rule oflaw, the recognition of human rights remains poor and opposing political parties cmmot survive or operate successfully in a political and legal environment like this because their rights of speech, movement and trial will similarly be hampered, this is despite the good laws in Uganda, but implementation remains poor due to ambiguities. The study recommends; Reviewing establishment of the electoral commission, monitoring enforcement of the freedom of assembly, restricting the involvement of police in disrupting assemblies, reinstating a competent enforcement legal frmnework, improving the electoral observation process, setting penalties for election inegularities, and civic education and constitutional awareness.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION A ......................................................................................... i

DECLARATION B ......................................................................................... ii

DEDICATION ............................................................................................. .iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ................................................................................. iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................. v

LIST OF ACRONYMS ................................................................................... viii

LIST OF STATUTES ...................................................................................... ix

ABSTRACT ................................................................................................. X

CHAPTER ONE ............................................................................................. 1

1.1 Introduction .............................................................................................. 1

1.2 Background of the Study .............................................................................. 1

1.3 Statement of the Problem ............................................................................. 11

1.4 Purpose of the Study .................................................................................. 12

1.5 Objectives of the study ................................................................................ 12

1.5.1 General Objective .................................................................................... 12

1.5.2 Specific Objectives .................................................................................. 12

1.6 Research Questions .................................................................................... 12

1.7 Hypothesis .............................................................................................. l3

1.8 Justification of the Study ............................................................................. 13

1.9 Scope of the Study .................................................................................... 13

1.10 Literature Review .................................................................................... 14

1.11 Significance of the study ............................................................................ 19

1.12 Research Methodology .............................................................................. 19

1.13 Synopsis ............................................................................................... 21

CHAPTER TWO .......................................................................................... 22

v

INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC LEGAL FORCE ON HUMAN RIGHTS BALANCING

UNDER MULTIPARTISM IN UGANDA ............................................................ 22

2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................. 22

2.2 International Legislation on Multiparty Governance ......................................... 23

2.2.1 The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966) ............................ 23

2.2.2 The Universal Declaration for Human Rights (1948) .......................................... 24

2.2.3 The Afiican Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (1981) .................................. 26

2.3 Domestic Legislation ............................................................................ 26

2.3.2 The Political Party and Organization Act (2005) ............................................... 29

2.3.3 Electoral Commission Act (1997 as amended) .................................................. 30

2.3.4 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections Act (2005) .......................................... 30

CHAPTER THREE ....................................................................................... 32

A CRITIQUE OF THE SUPPORTIVE LEGAL AND POLICY INSTRUMENTS ............. 32

3.1 Introduction ......................................................................................... 32

3.2 Human Rights and Multiparty Law in Uganda ................................................ 32

3.3 Conclusion .............................................................................................. 37

CHAPTER FOUR ......................................................................................... 38

PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF THE FINDINGS ..................................... 38

4.1 Introduction ........................................................................................ 38

4.2 Human Rights Defenders and Multiparty governance in Uganda .............................. 38

4.3 Cause of human rights imbalances in multiparty governance in Uganda since 1986 ........ .41

CHAPTER FIVE .......................................................................................... .49

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................... 49

5.1 Introduction ........................................................................................ 49

5.2 Conclusions ........................................................................................ .49

5.3 Recommendations ................................................................................. 50

5.3 .1 Review establishment of the Electoral Commission ....................................... 50

5.3.2 Monitoring enforcement of the freedom of assembly ...................................... 50

5.3.3 Restricting the involvement of Police in Disrupting assemblies .............................. 50

5.3.4 There is Need to Reinstate a Competent Enforcement Body ............................... 51

5.3.5 Improve the electoral observation process ....................................................... 51