THE LATE DR. PETER. AGENONGA ONGOM

BRIEF LIFE HISTORY OF THE LATE DR. SIMON PETER AGENONGA ONGOM

BORN: 29th March 1973 to the Late Prof. V. L. Ongom and Mrs Cecilia Ongom, the last born in the family
DIED: 21st November 2014 at Nakasero Hospital following a prolonged illness
EDUCATION:
1. Kampala Kindergarten
2. Kitante Primary School
3. St Marys College Kisubi (O & A Level)
4. Makerere University – MBCHB and MSc (Surgery)
5. He had began his research to obtain a PhD
WORK HISTORY
Following his graduation from Makerere, he worked with;
1. Mbale Hospital
2. Atutur Hospital
3. Lira Hospital
4. Gulu University (Lecturer)
5. Makerere University (Lecturer in Dept of Surgery)
He has battled with liver complications from 2010 till mid 2014 when the team of his doctors recommended that he receive a liver transplant as a lasting solution to the prolonged illness.

He travelled to Chennai in India on the 12th of August 2014. The liver transplant was carried out on the 8th September at Apollo Hospital. The liver transplant was successfully completed after a 15 hour operation. He was up and about within a few days of surgery and was very determined to make a full recovery in the expected time. However, he later developed several setbacks, most of them associated with the outcomes of such a procedure. He was discharged from hospital two months later and looked on the path to recovery.

He was in and out of hospital for another month and was discharged on 17th November 2014 and returned to Uganda on 18th November.

He was weak and frail but his doctors assured us that he would make a full recovery especially considering the fact that being at home would better suit his dietary needs and the care of family too.

Among the procedures that would assist his recovery was dialysis to assist the renal (kidney) function to full capacity.

On Thursday 20th November, he lost appetite and developed difficulty in breathing and he was admitted in Nakasero Hospital.

He was attended to and after stabilization; he was cleared for another session of dialysis.

He was taken into the dialysis room at 2.30pm. At his side during this period were his mother, Elizabeth (sister), Godfrey and Charles (brothers). He still wore that look of determination that he has worn at through his illness.

During the dialysis, the Almighty called him from earthly existence.

The doctors failed in all attempts to resuscitate him. He breathed his last at 5.17pm on Friday 21st November.

We the Ongom family will always be grateful for the life of Peter our baby in the home.

We is immensely loved and will forever be in our memory.

We would like to especially thank all those who have stood by Peter during his illness.

Special mention to:
The Office of the Prime Minister
The Minister of Finance
The Secretary to the Treasury
The Vice Chancellor of Makerere University The Head of Department – Surgery Staff of Makerere University The Chaplaincy, St Josephs Church, Mulago We cannot forget to especially thank all who contributed financially and morally to enable him undergo the liver transplant and all associated treatment costs.

May the Almighty reward you abundantly

A TRIBUTE TO A GREAT COLLEAGUE: DR. PETER A. ONGOM

You are gone too soon my brother but who are we to question God. He has his own plans for each of us. We pray that you find peace and rest away from all the pain that you may have gone through. We ask God to strengthen your dear mum and your family during these trying times. Some of your colleagues were there to bid you farewell in Pakwach but a number who would have wanted to be there were unable to because of one reason or another. The medical fraternity mourns with your family but also celebrates your life, achievements and legacy. As many of these messages may not be passed on to the family, I have compiled a collection from the multiple emails that I would like to share.
Fee thee well my brother, you have indeed gone too soon!
Dr. Jane Achan – Class of 1992

MESSAGE OF CONDOLENCES FROM THE UGANDA MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
It was with profound shock that we received the news of the passing on of our colleague and friend Dr. Peter Ongom.
Peter has been a hardworking surgeon who has carried out his work with passion, diligence, devotion and integrity.
His contribution will indeed be greatly missed by his colleagues, patients, students and the entire medical fraternity.
We shall continue to pray for his family that God gives them strength and comfort during this difficult time.
And may his soul rest in eternal peace.
Dr. Nathan Kenya-Mugisha, President- Uganda Medical Association
This is very sad and a great loss for the surgical fraternity and the nation at large. Dr. Peter Ongom has been a very skilled, very intelligent and extremely hardworking surgeon.
I first met him when we were doing MMed Surgery (2000 to 2003) and he excelled with distinctions in all the subjects from first year first semester to third year final exams. He had now just embarked on his PhD, following 11 years of dedicated services as a general Surgeon both up county and in Mulago National referral Hospital. He has been a brilliant lecturer very uniquely interested in passing on his wealth of knowledge and skills to his students that correctly saw and referred to junior colleagues, doctors in waiting.
Peter - PUMBA as we fondly referred to him had been at the prime of his age and so full of life, full of dreams; for his personal career, for the department of surgery (Makerere), the colorectal firm, the skills lab especially the laparoscopic training, and our small consultants office room.
Pumba, you have gone too soon when we all needed you the most. We will miss you but I guess the good Lord In his wisdom wanted you with him, NOW.
I am not sure I will be sending you off in person as I am currently out of the country for a skills transfer mentorship program as a recipient. So fare thee well my brother and Rest in peace, Dr. Peter Ongom.
Dr. Frank Asiimwe (Rubabinda Jr), Mulago National Referral Hospital
Yes Frank, you have said it all. Brother "PUMBA" on behalf of MMed surgery (2000) OBs & OGs, we shall dearly miss you. Please rest in peace and may the Almighty bless and reward you with Eternal life.
We may not individually accompany you home, but as you can see our spirits, we are with you and share the sorrows of all who mourn your demise. Sad indeed
Tom Okello, Head Surgery - Lacor Hospital, Gulu.
I have leant with great shock of passing on of Dr Peter Ongom; he was my Anatomy and Surgery lecturer. He was truly a gifted surgeon who made complicated things look much simpler and very interesting, that even not good students like me felt of becoming surgeons at such an early stage of our carrier. Never at any one time did he try to show off his excellence but we only saw excellence in him. I would say that I was lucky to be one of your students, May your soul rest in internal peace.
Dr Nuwagaba Charles
My favorite surgery teacher and mentor Dr.Ongom,
Fare thee well.
You have run your race
Dr. Keith Baleeta
Our first head of department of Anatomy, Gulu University Medical School. A TRUE mentor, you will always be in our hearts. The Knowledge and skills you gave us lives on.
May your soul rest in peace
Dr. Okello Dan
I have learnt with great shock of the passing on of Dr. Peter Ongom. Peter was my classmate right from Form 5 at St.Mary's College Kisubi in 1990, through undergraduate MBChB class at Makerere University Medical School 1992-1997(then). He was exceptionally intelligent and yet down-to-earth, calm and friendly person. I am sure he has been one of the outstanding surgeons of our generation, for quality was his hallmark. He will be greatly missed. May his humble soul rest in eternal peace
Dr. Kenneth Mugisha
I would like to extend my condolences to the family of the late Dr Ongom. He was my SHO when I was an intern. To all members on this discussion group, let us take heart as we all face the same destination. Of all the things we do every day, we are only assured of one thing and that is death. The difference is only time where every head has its own day.
RIP Dr Ongom
Dr. Grace Muzanye
My condolences, we have been through thick and thin with you as undergraduates since 1992, in Livingstone hall, as post graduates in Mulago, we moved together to Lira Hospital till we temporarily separated when you joined Gulu and finally Mulago. Sure the interactions we had meant a lot and I will seriously miss U
RIP. So sad indeed!!!!
Dr. Lukoda Ramathan
Peter was one of the members of SMACK PCB class that joined Makerere
University in 1992. He was one of the 4 members of the SMACK PCB class
that was shortlisted for selection for the overall best 20 students in the country. He unfortunately missed out on this but his three classmates Dr. Businge Bitamizire, Dr. Mugisha Kenneth and Prof. Kitara David received this special recognition from the state for the top 20 students in all combinations in the country. Therefore, he had a very strong academic background and his dreams were to become the
best in his field.
The MBChB class of 1992 graduated in 1997 and we met again with Peter
at Gulu University in 2004 at the establishment of the new faculty of Medicine. He was the first head of department of anatomy of Gulu University and lectured in the department of surgery until he transferred his services to Makerere University.
Our school motto was, "Duc in altum" "To launch into the deep" and that was his immediate dream to complete his PhD program.
May his soul rest in peace!!
Dr. David Kitara
It is indeed a big lose for this nation more so for the medical academic fraternity.
DR Ongom Peter was the first head of department of anatomy in Gulu University.
He is remembered for His dedicated service.
RIP
Dr. Moses Batwala
So sad indeed! Peter was one of the rare doctors who sacrificed a lot for the rural poor. I remember him working in Atutur Hospital under very difficult conditions and serving with humility when very few doctors would accept to be posted to this hospital. It is so sad that he has gone so soon.
May the Good Lord Rest Peter Ongom's soul in Eternal Peace
Dr John Ekure, Kumi Orthopedic Center
Very sad indeed. Peter attracted young Drs to rural Kumi when he worked there as an MS. He facilitated us to learn and stay in hospital when we were 3rd yrs in medical school. He was inspirational. May his soul rest in eternal peace
Dr. Oluka Onyait
During our time internet was almost unheard of. OP knew things from politics, economics, law, sports, entertainment etc as if he was googling. I had great respect for his academic prowess. I also vividly remember the discussions we used to have with OP in a daily basis. We even became closer during our internship in Mbale. He had a good heart. I will always remember OP. Indeed life is only part of a long journey. We will always miss you OP.
Dr. Nasur Muwonge - Class of 1992
May his soul rest in peace. I remember him during competitions at Butabika hospital rotation. He and Sonko managed to clear over 20 boiled eggs each.
We shall indeed miss him.
Dr. Kabugo Blasio – Class of 1992
It’s sad about OP…… Thoughts and prayers are with the family and all of us who will miss him immensely.
Dr. Andrew Kambugu – Class of 1992
Unfortunate to lose a Doctor at such a time of his prime part of professionalism and life.
RIP Dr. Ongom
Dr. Alex Ario
It is indeed a sad moment to us all. May the Almighty Lord grant his Soul Eternal Peace.
Dr. Peter Eriki
Fare thee well Peter (my mentor). May Jesus receive you gladly
Dr. Vianney Kweyamba
Very sad indeed! May the Lord receive him with great favor and may his soul rest in eternal peace! Peter you will indeed be missed!
Dr. Patrick Kyamanywa
Fare Thee Well, Peter,
Fare Thee Well.
You will be missed, greatly.
Dr. Michael C. Oketcho
Saddened to hear of Dr. Ongom’s passing. Sending prayers of comfort and strength to his family, friends and medical fraternity.
Dr. Edith N
It’s a hard fact to swallow, he’s gone! We empathetically join the bereaved family, friends and colleagues in celebrating the life of Dr Ongom.
Dr. Freddie Bwanga
RIP Dr Ongom
Gone too soon. We shall miss you. May His soul rest in PEACE.
Dr. Wambazu Moses
What a great loss. May God strengthen the family and all u friends
Dr. Okello Margaret, Mulago Hosp.
This is very sad news, another Doctor has passed on so sad.
May his soul rest in peace .May the Almighty God keep his family, friends and the medical fraternity strong.
Dr. Eddie Mworozi
May the Lord grant him eternal rest. Fair thee well good doctor..
Dr Wasswa Ssalongo
RIP my lecturer
Dr. Irene Bagala
May the soul of Dr. Peter rest in eternal peace, as the Good Lord reward him
for all he did for his people. My sympathies to the grieved family.
Sr (Dr).Euphrasia Katuutu
Very sorry and too sad indeed. May his soul rest in eternal peace
Dr. Joel Kimera
R.I.P our dear colleague!
Dr. Peter Kawanguzi
Very sad and sorry to learn of Peter Ongom's death. He was a good surgeon. His late dad Prof Ongom was our teacher too. May his soul rest in peace.
Dr. C. Engoru - Soroti
May the almighty God grant him eternal rest after all these years of hard work.
Condolences to all the family members, relatives and friends.
Dr. Yayi Alfred
My condolences to the medical fraternity and to the family.
RIP
Dr. Isaac Kadowa, Ministry of Health
Our deepest condolences, Rest in eternal peace Dr.Peter Ongom,
Dr. Frank Asiimwe, thank you for a great eulogy.
Dr.Sabrina Bakeera-Kitaka, Makerere University
I pass on my personal condolence and that of the UCMB network to the family of late Dr. Ongom. May his soul rest in eternal peace.
Dr. Sam Orochi Orach, Uganda Catholic Medical Bureau
Dear All, Very sad indeed. We shall miss Peter as a fraternity.
Peter RIP
Dr. Kirya Fred, Soroti Hospital
My heartfelt sympathy to the family and friends. RIP Mr. Ongom
Dr Bernard Omech, School of Medicine, Gaborone
RIP Dr Ongom
Dr. Busingye Diana
My sincere condolences Rest in Peace Dr. Ongom.
Dr. Isabella Epiu
Dear Colleagues, It is so sad. May the Almighty God Grant him eternal rest. May He strengthen the family at such a trying moment.
Dr. John B Waniaye, Mbale

Resolutions adapted at the national consultation on free, fair elections

(L-R front): Opposition leaders Wafula Oguttu, Ken Lukyamuzi, Kizza Besigye and Amanya Mushega, at the national consultation on free and fair elections in Kampala last week. Photo by Dominic Bukenya 

Posted  Sunday, November 30  2014 at  02:00

In Summary

The selection of commissioners and staff must follow a process of open application, public hearings and scrutiny conducted by the Judicial Service Commission. The successful applicants should be finally vetted by Parliament and upon approval be submitted to the President for appointment.

National consultation. Following countrywide consultations on electoral reforms, delegates last week met in Kampala and agreed on resolutions that will be presented to the Speaker of Parliament. Below is the full report.

Having considered electoral reform proposals by the coordinating team for the free and fair elections campaign, the Citizens Coalition on Electoral Democracy, the Interparty Political Organisations for Dialogue, the Electoral Commission (EC), the National Consultative Forum, the Cabinet and other concerned Ugandans.

Acknowledging also that more than 3,000 leaders participated in a series of consultations on free and fair elections held in the following regions: Tooro, Bukedi, Teso, Kigezi, Busoga, Sebei, Ankole, Bugisu, Buganda, Karamoja, Bunyoro, Acholi and West Nile solemnly agree and declare as follows:

I. New Electoral Commission
i. A new independent and impartial electoral commission must be established.

The selection of commissioners and staff must follow a process of open application, public hearings and scrutiny conducted by the Judicial Service Commission. The successful applicants should be finally vetted by Parliament and upon approval be submitted to the President for appointment.
ii. Commissioners should serve for a guaranteed one, non-renewable seven years term.

iii. A commissioner may only be removed from office in exceptional circumstances for gross misconduct or incompetence. Such removal process should follow the same criteria and procedure applied in the removal of a High Court judge.

iv. The new Electoral Commission must carry out a complete overhaul and review of existing staff of the commission, and returning and presiding officers.
v. The selection of secretariat staff of the commission at all levels, and returning and presiding officers and polling assistants, must go through open selection and publically advertised recruitment process.

II. Ensuring integrity of the voting process
i. A new, clean and verifiable register of voters, which should include eligible Ugandans in the diaspora, must be compiled by the new Electoral Commission. This should be done in a manner which is completely transparent and accurate; it should ensure the rights of citizens to register to vote, while preventing unlawful or fraudulent registration or removal of persons from the voters roll.

ii.The new register should be comprehensive, inclusive, and up-to-date; compiled through a transparent process with full participation of stakeholders, particularly political parties, civil society, and the public.

iii. The new register must be accessible to all as a public document that can be inspected at no-cost. It must be displayed at selected public places and all Electoral Commission offices. Before the new register is finalised, two months period of public display must be allowed for the public, political parties, and candidates to verify, object to or seek to add eligible names. The final, clean and verified register must be ready six months before elections day.

iv. A comprehensive and continuing civic and voter education programme should be developed and funded from the national Budget.

v. The voting for LCIII, LCV, Parliament and President should be conducted on one day to avoid influence peddling and patronage in the electoral process.

III. Role of security forces and militia

i. The military should have no involvement whatsoever in the electoral process and should remain focused on its constitutional duty of securing our borders and defending our sovereignty. Ensuring law and order during elections should be exclusively the responsibility of the regular police, under the direction and supervision of the Electoral Commission.

ii. The role of the police should be strictly to act impartially to ensure public order. Its role during the campaigns and in all other aspects of the electoral process should be monitored by the Electoral Commission.

iii. The military and police should vote in regular polling stations; they must not bear arms or wear uniforms in this process.

iv. The movement and deployment of the army should be restricted and monitored in the period before, during and after the elections, under arrangements agreed upon at the national consultation.

v. The formation and deployment of any militia (informal armed groups constituted outside the laws) is absolutely illegal; this prohibition must be strictly enforced in practice.

vi. Codes of conduct for security forces during the campaigns and elections should be agreed to by stakeholders. The agreed codes of conduct should then be independently and strictly monitored by the Electoral Commission.

vii. The Chief of Defence Forces must be in charge of all men and women in service.

viii. The President should relinquish tactical command and control of the armed forces to the joint chiefs, and must not serve as chairman of UPDF High Command. Membership in UPDF High Command should not be personal to holder.

ix. There should be an independent security service commission to determine discipline, promotions, commissions; as well as handle complaints and all other matters related to the army, police, intelligence agencies and all other security agencies.

IV. Integrity of the campaign process
i. A mechanism must be established to monitor and prevent raids for funds from the central bank, ministries, and international assistance accounts, in the period before and during elections campaign.

ii. An office of comptroller of Budget should be established to keep track of money trails and prevent diversion of funds from treasury, ministries, etc, for partisan political purposes and activities.

iii. Restrictions should be placed on resort to supplementary appropriations in the period of two financial years preceding general elections.

iv. In the period of two financial years preceding general elections, classified appropriations and appropriations for the presidency and State House should be restricted and strictly monitored, including funds that facilitate presidential patronage.

v. Public servants should resign their positions at least 6 months before their being nominated to contest in an election.

vi. All public officials nominated to contest an election should hand over public assets in their possession before they proceed for campaign.
vii. The Constitution should prohibit any party that is the ruling party from using State resources such as State House to conduct business that is purely for the political party.

V. Addressing the system of patronage
i. Independent commissions, agencies, regulatory bodies and independent offices should have separate selection, approval and appointment processes.

These bodies include: all service commissions, Electoral Commission, Salaries and Remuneration Commission, Local Government Finance Commission, Land Commission, Human Rights Commission, Uganda Revenue Authority, Bank of Uganda board, National Social security Fund board, and National Environment Management Authority. They must have security of tenure that fully guards against capricious actions by the appointing authorities.

ii. An independent body should be vested with the power and responsibility to advertise, interview, conduct public hearings with regard to appointment of commissioners for constitutional bodies.

iii. The role of Parliament should be restricted to final vetting of the selected persons and the power of a President should be restricted to issuing the instruments of appointment for persons who have gone through this appointment process.

iv. Creation of any political offices not provided for in Constitution, by the President, should be approved by Parliament.
v. No new political offices (under iv above) shall be created in the last year of the term of President.

vi. Any presidential donation above 500 currency units shall require the prior approval of a relevant parliamentary committee.

vii. The annual Budget for presidential donations shall not exceed 0.5 per cent of the recurrent budget for State House.

viii. Current ‘regional’ ministries and the so-called ministry for ‘mobilisation’ should be abolished. Ministries should be organised as specialised fields (departments) for providing defined public service.

ix. An independent salaries and remuneration board should be established and vested with powers to determine the salaries of public servants including political leaders such as President, ministers, MPs and local government political leaders.

x. Cabinet ministers should not be Members of Parliament and in case an MP is appointed to Cabinet, such MP should resign he or her seat before taking over the Cabinet position.

VII. Demarcation of electoral boundaries
i. For purposes of the next general elections, all administrative units, i.e. districts, counties, and sub-counties, should be frozen at the level of the 2011 elections.

ii. The responsibility for creating new electoral constituencies should only be exercised by the Electoral Commission, applying current criteria under the law.

iii. In demarcating constituencies, the Electoral Commission should judiciously take into account population size, geographical size, number of voters, financial implications and the management of the electoral exercise.

iv. The law should not tie electoral constituencies to administrative units such as districts or municipalities.

v. The size of Parliament should be reduced in keeping with the modest resources of the State.

VIII. Freedoms to organise and assemble
i. The Public Order Management Act must be repealed.
ii. The Police Amendment Act (2006) must be amended and brought into full conformity with the Bill of Rights under Chapter 4 of the Constitution.
iii. An independent police oversight body should be constituted by the National Consultation to monitor the role of the police in the electoral process.

iv. Police operating procedures, for ensuring public order in the context of campaigns and throughout the electoral process, should be transparent and made public.

v. The guidelines for public order management prepared by the Uganda Human Rights Commission in 2007 should be operationalised.

vii. The Electoral Commission should assume oversight role over the media during elections period; ensuring that all competing parties have equal access to the media.

viii. There should be penalties for media houses that fail to comply with the constitutional requirement for equal, fair and balanced coverage.
ix. The licensing regime should be used to secure compliance.

IX. Selection of presiding officers
i. The selection of presiding officers and polling assistants should be approved by political parties.

ii. Their selections should be transparent and based on merit and designated criteria.

iii. In order to qualify for selection, a person must not be or have been:
-An executive or member of a political party’s NEC or secretariat
-Run for elective political office on political party ticket in the last five years
-Convicted of electoral crime or serious misconduct or crime involving moral turpitude
-An RDC, DISO, GISO, a member of the security services or militia, or an appointee charged with partisan political responsibility or leader of a party in the last five years.

X. Processing of electoral materials
The processing and procurement of electoral materials, including design, printing and distribution of all materials should, at all levels and stages, ensure the participation, scrutiny and observation of key stakeholders, particularly political parties, civil society, election observers and the media.

XI. Ensuring integrity of tallying process
i. Polling station committees must be set up; they should be composed of political parties, civil society, and the presiding/ returning officers, to monitor the voting, counting, and tallying process and deal with complaints and disputes in the voting and tallying process, including the determination of valid, invalid, or spoilt ballots.

ii. Votes must be counted and tabulated accurately and transparently in the presence of stakeholders, i.e. political parties, civil society, observers, the media and the public.

iii. Votes must be counted and announced at polling stations in the presence of political parties, elections observers, civil society, and the public. Observers and representatives of political parties and candidates and the media must be given certified tabulation and tally sheets.

iv. Media must be permitted to report in real time, votes counted and winners announced at polling stations and certified by the presiding officer/polling assistant. Representatives of political parties and candidates must be free to publicise certified results and tally sheets from polling stations.
v. All results, including presidential, parliamentary results and local council results, must be declared at the constituency level.

XII.A credible Judiciary to adjudicate election disputes
i. A credible and independent Judiciary should be realised which is able to competently and credibly adjudicate all electoral disputes as they arise.

Members of the Judiciary should be subjected to an open process of selection and appointment, including public scrutiny. They should be assured of non-interference in the exercise of their duties. The remuneration of judges should be such as to ensure their independence.

ii. Provisions in the law that require subjective evaluation by judges, on whether particular violations and electoral malpractices were ‘substantial’ and in ‘a manner’ that would alter the results of an election, entail the exercise of subjective rather than legal judgement. For this reason, Section 59 of the Presidential Elections Act, which contains this provision, should be amended accordingly.

XIII.Internal democracy of political parties
The Electoral Commission should closely monitor all political parties for compliance with constitutional and electoral law relating to internal democracy in those entities. This includes adherence to the requirements of holding regular delegates conferences.

XIV. Relationship between Citizens and their MPs and political parties
A member who has been expelled from the party based on the decisions of the party disciplinary structures with appropriate appellate procedures should not lose their seats in Parliament on that basis.

XV.Representation of special interest groups
i. Representation of special interest groups of women, youth and disabled should be maintained as a form of affirmative action

ii. The process of electing representatives of persons with disabilities should be reformed to make it more accountable to the constituents they are designated to represent. PWDs should use regional electoral colleges to elect one woman and one male. The Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) Act should be amended to cater for the elections of PWDs at the municipality level.

iii. All MPs representing special interest groups should be eligible for re-election only once-should serve only two terms of office weather in Parliament or local councils.

iv. The workers should be removed from special interest group representation since issues of workers can be represented by all MPs.
v. The army representatives should be removed from Parliament.

XVI. Funding for local governments and service delivery
i. Local governments should receive their funding directly from the consolidated fund as a percentage of the national Budget. This will enhance their autonomy and authority to deal with issues of service delivery. The money should not be conditional and the disbursements must be timely, to allow for utilisation of the same. Funds returned should be accounted for and not misused.

ii. The proposed share of the national Budget to be allocated to local governments should be in the range of 30-40 per cent based on serious negotiations and budget amendment by Parliament.

XVII. Tenure of office of president
The tenure of office of the President should be restored to two five-year terms and must be entrenched in the Constitution.

XVIII. Implementation of the compact
We adopt this compact as our solemn commitment to undertake the following actions to guarantee its implementation.

We will present a copy of this compact as our petition to our national Parliament for our MPs to enact these proposals into appropriate legislation within the next two months in order to create the necessary infrastructure for conducting a free and fair election.

A citizens task force comprised of the eminent persons group of conveners and the convening civil society organisations shall formally present this compact to the Speaker of Parliament and sure her support to the reform process.
The coordinating team and the conveners shall immediately convene and establish a mechanism for ensuring full implementation of this compact.

All citizens’ organisations and groups, and civic leaders commit to popularise the compact and mobilise all citizens across the country to support and advocate for the reform proposals contained in this compact.
All the political parties, civil society organisations and political leaders and religious leaders participating in this national consultation commit themselves to use their structures to mobilise support from the grassroots to support these reform proposals.

This compact will be translated into major local languages and disseminated widely to all citizens to enable them own the reform proposals agreed at this national consultation.

All forms of lobbying, mobilisation and organisation shall be used to ensure that citizens demand for the full implementation of this compact.

For God and My Country

Electoral reforms: Is Opposition and civil society chasing the wind?

By  Ivan Okuda

Posted  Sunday, November 30  2014 at  02:00

In Summary

At this stage, it is material to pose the question, how far can the reforms campaign go, especially in a system where the reforms directly affect the regime survival project that President Museveni has been criticized for entrenching?

For three days, political and civil society leaders converged in Kampala, mulling a way forward for the country’s electoral agenda. That meeting attracted more than 1,000 participants and gave birth to a document aptly dubbed the Uganda Citizens’ Compact on Free and Fair Elections.

This will form a petition yet to be presented to the Speaker of Parliament, who will in turn, spur debate in the August House that will inform the constitutional amendments the Uganda Law Reform Commission is spearheading.
The conspicuous absence of top National Resistance Movement (NRM) leadership spoke volumes akin to the coldness to and disinterest of the ruling party in the reform gospel.

Uganda Media Centre executive director and government mouthpiece Ofwono Opondo asserted that, “the government does not work through the Opposition and civil society” and Parliament’s legislative role is clear cut.
Presidential Press Secretary Tamale Mirundi said his boss was busy and doubted if he had been invited. The organisers poured cold water on that excuse and clarified that the President and all MPs had been invited.

What picture does the absence of the ruling party paint for the reforms agitators?
Former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) president Kizza Besigye and civil society activist Sheila Kawamara downplay the absence of the NRM as only hiding its head in the sand like the proverbial ostrich.

Ms Kawamara said, “Let the country not be fooled. The top leaders are only feigning ignorance because NRM is part of this effort. They are only showing they are not interested because of the nasty background, since January police has been dispersing our regional consultative meetings. They know the organisers are pulling a rag in the carpet. The President should have sent the NRM secretary general.”

Dr Besigye, who has expressed a lukewarm attitude to the 2016 elections said, “We have LC5 chairpersons and MPs from NRM here. They made a big mistake which we can exploit because they forget that their strength lies in the lower cadres.”

At this stage, it is material to pose the question, how far can the reforms campaign go, especially in a system where the reforms directly affect the regime survival project that President Museveni has been criticised for entrenching? Are we chasing wind?
Makerere University constitutional law don Busingye Kabumba waves a flag of scepticism.

He says, “A lot will depend on the commitments various stakeholders in the process demonstrate to ensure the realisation of the proposals. A lot will also depend on the extent to which Ugandans realise their role in regard to shaping their country’s destiny.”

Justice minister Kahinda Otafiire has called for proposals for constitutional amendments from the citizenry.

Kabumba reminds readers, “Historically, government made processes for constitutional reform which have not been truly inclusive and I don’t see anything different here. All indications are that NRM’s interests will be written in the Constitution.”

In a week or two, Parliament will receive the more than 23 proposed reforms, but the law scholar sends another aide memoire, “That assumes good faith on the part of the NRM, I am not too sure that assumption will be borne out.”

Parliament has already been labelled a rubber stamp of the NRM, in fact, the NRM caucus is the de facto Parliament, with its numerical strength shaping the legislative agenda. The caucus has been criticised for dancing to the whims of the president.

In this mix, how do we penetrate the wall?
Kabumba ponders and says, “That is a question for Ugandans to determine by themselves.”

Indeed, if this is a question for Ugandans to determine, the activists are sure they will facilitate that process too.

Dr Besigye says, “It is the duty of all people here (at the convention) to do everything within their power to ensure what has been agreed on is implemented. That is where the energy must go now.”

He is optimistic some sections within the NRMs’ rank and file will also pile pressure.

“Unreasonable people in NRM are slowly being isolated. Many NRM leaders are here and even criticised their party for not sending the top leadership,” he told our reporter at the closure of the conference.

He adds, “The citizens have spoken and made a strong commitment that what has been agreed on must be implemented, there is no need to emphasise that power belongs to the people. Whether NRM wants it or not, they must implement these proposed reforms.”

Kawamara agrees with Dr Kabumba. The 9th Parliament, she opines, is the weakest Parliament in the country’s history. For that matter, the activist says, “The power of the people is going to be put on test. Either the government listens or reacts to the masses. I am sure they will be forced to adapt these reforms. They have no way out. I have learned never to underestimate the power of people.”

Former executive director Advocates Coalition for Environment and Development (ACODE) Godber Tumushabe has been at the frontline of the reforms and argues that parliamentarians will pay a heavy price if they fail to pass the reforms. If the MPs subdue to the pressure from the ruling party, he says, the campaigners for the reforms are already mobilising citizens to take over Parliament.

“Unless Ugandans decide that it is ok to be taken for granted, there is no way the system can fail to respond. Our fundamental problem is that people do things with impunity, if government fails to respond, we must force them,” Tumushabe says.

It is prudent to remind Tumushabe that in 2005, the citizens he is relying on for mass action looked on as the presidential term limits were lifted. He quickly downplays that and says, “At that time citizens were not engaged. This time we spread the discourse beyond politicians. There was energy in the regional consultations. I am sure Ugandans will rise up when the country’s future is at stake.”

Time frame unrealistic?
However, Charles Rwomushana, the former head of political intelligence at State House and self-proclaimed political commentator, pokes holes in the reforms, arguing for instance, that dissolving and reconstitution of the Electoral Commission is too late.

First on the agenda for the reforms is the constitution of a new Electoral Commission with ingredients such as a new, clean and verifiable register of voters which should capture Ugandans in the diaspora and must be compiled by the new Electoral Commission.

There are fears that with less than a year to the polls in 2016, this falls short of the time constraint. Mr Tumushabe argues that in the event Parliament fails to expeditiously implement the reforms, “we shall push for a transition government to take over briefly in 2016 to purposely implement the reforms and whoever serves it shall be barred from standing for at least 10 years.”

The Badru Kiggundu led EC has come under attack for working as an appendage of the NRM. Senior commissioners are either former or active NRM cadres. In 2001 and 2006, the Supreme Court acknowledged that the elections were marred by irregularities but fell short of shooting itself in the foot when it asserted that the irregularities were not substantial to cause a change in the outcome.

The activists now want Section 59 of the Presidential Elections Act amended so that the test of substantiality is ejected. This provision is likely to meet stiff resistance from the ruling party. The activists are also calling for an independent judiciary. This perhaps comes from the background of the 2001 and 2006 polls.

Justice George Kanyeihamba, who was part of the seven judge panel that handled the petition in 2006, has revealed in his autobiography, The Joy of Being Who You Are, the role of the invisible hand of the President that appeared to blur the judges’ assessment and final decision.

Already the country is still grappling with what Principal Judge Yorokamu Bamwine recently called a fatherless Judiciary and the appointment of a new Chief Justice (CJ) is giving the appointing authority sleepless nights.

Critics have connected this to the 2016 polls, as the President might be stuck on zeroing in on a CJ who can tilt the balance in the court room just in case we have a repeat of 2001 and 2006

A boycott not one of the options
The practicability of Tumushabe’s idea of a transition government makes fine fodder for imagination and debate in the same way a boycott of the election would. In 2011, Uganda People’s Congress president Olara Otunnu, who to his credit was the first to call for the reforms, boycotted the ballot process on the D-day.

Indeed, some voices in the Opposition have called for the inclusion of this among the options. But a boycott is not as easy as it sounds. Nothing stops the ruling party from sponsoring some opposition figures to contest, if only to lend credence to the ballot. In Zimbabwe, the same approach hit a snag as president Robert Mugabe still carried the day in an election largely boycotted by the opposition.

Tumushabe vehemently rules out a boycott from their window of options. “I wouldn’t advise a boycott. Why should we boycott our election? It is ours and it must be conducted on our terms and conditions. We cannot boycott it,” he says.
But above all this, Kawamara says, “This is a post-Museveni compact, we don’t want to have the masses rising up, taking over power and they are bleak on what to do with it as is the case in Tunisia and Libya. If Museveni is out, we don’t want the army in elections, we want the president to serve for only two five year terms. It is beyond him. If Museveni died or failed to make it to the ballot, won’t we have electoral reforms?”

When all is said and done, the agitators for the reforms have limited delicate options, including a boycott of the polls which appears a tall order given the background of an Opposition struggling for harmony.

One is to put Parliament to task to implement the reforms at all costs. Very few NRM-leaning MPs (factoring their make or break numerical value) have expressed enthusiasm, at least publically in the reforms and with a cold shoulder coming from the Executive, only time can tell how far this can go.

The other option, which has not been time tested at least in the last 28 years, is to rally the masses, perhaps the anti-Blaise Compaore-Burkinabe way, to turn tables upside down and force the regime to respond or be booted.

Is this achievable? Do these reforms have such a strong resonating appeal that the wananchi, wallowing in citizen apathy, can match to the streets to demand for their implementation? The activists think so; but time alone can give the most accurate answer.

THE PROPOSED ELECTORAL REFORMS

1. A new independent and impartial Electoral Commission with selection of commissioners carried out by the Judicial Service Commission in public hearings.

2. A new, clean and verifiable register of voters including Ugandans in the Diaspora, compiled by the new Electoral Commission. The register must be a public document, ready six months before elections.

3. The military must be withdrawn from electoral processes, with the regular police handling all matters of law and order and monitored by the EC. The President should relinquish tactical command and control of armed forces to the Joint Chief of Staff.

4. Establish mechanism to monitor and prevent raids for funds from central bank, ministries and international assistance accounts.

5. To address patronage, no new political offices shall be created in the last term of the President. No minister should be an MP at the same time.
6. Repeal the Public Order Management Act and institute penalties for media houses that fail to cover elections objectively and fairly. Allow media report in real time the votes counted and winners and declare all general election results at constituency level.

7. Review special interest group representation, restore term limits and amend Section 59 of Presidential Elections Act that establishes
substantiality test for election petitions.

About the Badru Kiggundu-led EC

The Badru Kiggundu led Electoral Commission has come under attack for working as an appendage of the NRM. Senior commissioners are either former or active NRM cadres.
In 2001 and 2006, the Supreme Court acknowledged that the elections were marred by irregularities but fell short of shooting itself in the foot when it asserted that the irregularities were not substantial to cause a change in the outcome.

editorial@ug.nationmedia.com

KIWANUKA KITUUKA WILL NOT REGISTER A PARTY BUT IS INTERESTED IN FORMING A GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL UNITY

KIWANUKA KITUUKA WANTS KAIHURA TO DEAL WITH KITATTA

At the time when Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) wanted the Commercial Motorcyclists (boda boda) operating in Kampala City counted, there came a man by the name Abdalla Kitata the Chief of Boda Boda 2010.  This fellow was able to stand in the way and the counting had to be re – scheduled.  Kitata has been heard on a number of Radio stations claiming how he has direct touch with President Museveni, and this is the source of the problems.  Kitata alleges to have been able to get motor cycles directly from the President for the benefit of the commercial motorcyclists.  While some people may think all is well within the boda boda operators, the talk show on Monday evening on Radio Kaboozi – 87.9FM at 8.00pm brought out clearly that not all is well with Kitata even among the boda boda operators.  They allege that Kitata is able to abuse their rights and he is proud about it!

The Monday strike by the Taxi operators has had one of the engineers as Kitata.  While some people may be happy with Kitata, they have to be ready for the outcome of his operations.  While the strike was on, some taxi’s were damaged and it is alleged that the scheming had been by Kitata himself to have all the taxi operators observe the strike.  It is true that the situation in Uganda is very challenging to a number of people, and when Kitata is left to do what he wishes, those in authority should be ready for the consequences.  We are aware that KCCA has plans to re – locate the boda boda operators.  We are also aware that President Museveni wants KCCA to see that the status of Kampala is lifted to cope with other cities.  In this respect, if the security personnel don’t put a limit to what Kitata can do through his mobilization, the worst is yet to be seen in Kampala.   

KIWANUKA KITUUKA IS CONVINCED THAT NRM - O CANNOT HOLD A FREE UNDER FAIR ELECTION UNDER ELECTRONIC VOTING

Electronic voting (also known as e-voting) is voting using electronic systems to aid casting and counting votes. Electronic voting technology can include punched cards, optical scan voting systems and specialized voting kiosks (including self-contained direct-recording electronic voting systems, or DRE).

http://kiwanukakituukaforugandapresident2016.webs.com/


I want electronic voting - President Museveni

President Museveni addresses the press in Rwakitura last night. Photo by Rachel Mabala 
 By Isaac Imaka

Posted  Thursday, June 12   2014 at  15:35
In Summary
Explaining his intention further, the President said: “The current system is good if we had vigilance and low propensity of cheating but because we don’t have it, that’s why we must go to a surer way of electoral voting using our thumb print which is not easy to duplicate.”

Rwakitura
President Yoweri Museveni has given a sneak peak of what is contained in the forthcoming electoral reforms package, saying he intends to introduce electronic voting as part of his electoral reforms.
The President was responding to a question by a journalist during a late night press briefing at his country home in Rwakitura on whether his pro electronic voting argument in his article on election rigging means he intends to bring the system in the much expected electoral reforms.
The presser had been organised for the President to announce to the country that he had paid over $600,000 for UBC to run all World cup matches.
“I have been working for electronic voting for a long time; since Ugandans have got a bad habit of cheating it would be a better way to stop that habit because it works with a central memory that can be able to say that that person has already voted. I have a lot of faith in that,” he said.

Explaining his intention further, the President said: “The current system is good if we had vigilance and low propensity of cheating but because we don’t have it, that’s why we must go to a surer way of electoral voting using our thumb print which is not easy to duplicate.”
In an article he penned, early this month, portraying opposition politicians as congenital election cheats the President said the continued unfairness and vote theft has made him insist on computerized voting for almost 20 years.
Leader of Opposition, Wafula Ogutu says he doesn’t have trust computerised voting because it has been a mess in Kenya, Ghana and “latest Malawi.”

“You can say electronic voting will stop mal practices of rigging but individuals control electronic voting and his people will be manning it. I do not have faith in it.
“He is just trying to make the people drop their guts or vigilance because even electronic voting has been used for rigging, in Kenya, Ghana and Malawi recently,” he said.
Electoral Commission couldn’t be got to comment on its capacity to run a computerized voting system but government spokesperson, Mr Ofwono Opondo told Daily Monitor online after the late night presser that such voting would be possible if the on-going ID registration target is achieved.