{UAH} The Hague Convention Uganda Presentation by: Col. Samson Mande- The role of military in transitioning Uganda from dictatorships.

The Hague Convention Uganda

Presentation by: Col. Samson Mande

The role of military in transitioning Uganda from dictatorships.
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Col. Samson Mande to begin his presentation, which addressed He began his presentation with a vote of thanks to the government and people of Netherlands for granting us an arena and a platform to sit and discuss a historic theme on transitioning Uganda from dictatorship to good governance politically, socially and economically. He said that his paper covered three aspects: as a member of the diaspora, as a colonel and as a member of group taking responsibility to plan the transition. He said he was to focus on what brought us here, that it was no longer an issue that Uganda is a failed state, a dictatorship, and Uganda must return to a functioning democratic state.

Mande started with a brief of Uganda's military history reminding us that its role is to defend the nation from external aggression and help conduct civil works when called upon in peaceful times like constructing roads. He also said that it was never the role of the military to decide the political leadership of the country. That 1966 saw an abuse of the military and since then power shifted from rule of law to rule of the gun. The monster that the politicians had created ended up eating them for in 1971 Gen Iddi Amin overthrew the civilian leadership. The military has dominated since and it is time that the envisioned order was restored. The campaign to make the change started long ago but the recent phenomenon of the social media helped in forming a discussion group.

As Ugandan, we have attempted to remove Museveni in various ways but failed and the question has to be is it magic of the man or is it for lack of organization on our part? It is important that we regroup to make the change we believe in. Mande tasked himself to meet different groups to achieve that goal. We now need a road map that we can sell to the rest of the country. That it is not necessary that we must have everybody on board at the outset but the willing few can act as the vanguard. After that we shall build a national consensus for political reform because our cause is, without a doubt, a just one. He said that they began by forming as Uganda Transition Council with some preferring the name Uganda Transition Forum / Front. He pointed out that we need a forum that is neutral, non- partisan, inclusive that takes on all interests of different groups if we are to succeed. We need a vision that people can believe in. It has to be a vision that is more powerful than weapons. We have been led by people without a national inclusive vision and whenever we have changed governments the struggle did not translate to what we worked for instead it got worse and turned against us. We must be united in her diversity in a country where we are free no matter where we come from we are equally empowered to fulfill our dream and realize it… today we have a young population in the country and 83% of them are unemployed, and are unlikely to realise their dreams. It is only today that we see those who steal a lot of money being glorified and made heroes while those who steal little money are convicted our vision therefore is to make political reforms that will take us from a failed state and give us a civilian government that will allow the input of all Ugandans to give hope of a Uganda for us all. The struggle for peaceful change has not gained momentum, despite the walk to work processions as the case was in the Arab spring, something that has made Ugandans to be described as cowards. But this is not true because propaganda and fear has been instigated in the people and the active use of divide and rule by the current dictatorship.

 Due to the limitation on time, Mande gave an overview of the remaining part of the speech with a conclusion of getting short term and long term solutions. We therefore need a nonpartisan group without division because we don't want the transition to be killed by power struggles within. He gave an example of the failure of the Moshi conference which was because everyone at the conference had intentions to rule immediately after the elections. He said, we therefore must distinguish liberation/transition and the fight for power. Transition shall therefore be led by people who are not to stand for power in the next ten years but their role shall be limited to the day to day running of society and leveling the ground through the recommended reforms. He also emphasized that the purpose of the transitional government was to level the ground that will lead to a national convention that will charter an inclusive way forward

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H.OGWAPITI
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