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Leadership: You have been in the opposition for more than a decade. How do you assess “The Process of Democratization in Uganda”?
Dr. Kizza: Since the time of independence no political leader made a significant stride towards democracy. In Uganda, up to date no President handed over power peacefully to the people. I
participated in the struggle of Independence of the NRM. We had a clear mission, called “10 points of NRM”. The movement betrayed its mission and its goals. After 26 years nothing has changed. The source of power is still the military. Elections were conducted but they were just a façade and a ritual, nothing authentic.
The imagination of the vast majority continued unabated for a long time and that is why I challenged the system in 1999. Till that time there was only Party-State. As a result of the pressure we exerted we managed to introduce party system, which up to now remained “nominal”. I call nominal because, though protected by law, it is grossly contradicted and eschewed. The president has preponderant power. He changes Parliamentary laws at will; he intervenes in the judiciary even when there are court procedures with military force.
That is why I say the source of power is still the military, the gun and force. Yes, we did some democratic journey, but they are still insignificant. The way the State affairs are conducted is a clear act of treason, subversion and in all senses unconstitutional. That is not what the NRM dreamt and fought for.
