{UAH} PROTOCOL OF THE DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE.(TDA)

PROTOCOL OF THE DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE.(TDA)

 

REPUBLIC OF UGANDA

 

PROTOCOL OF THE DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE

 

PREAMBLE

WHEREAS through our Constitution Ugandans made a solemn commitment to build a better future for ourselves, our children, grand children and all future generations, by establishing a socio-economic and political order based on the principles of unity, peace, equality, democracy, social justice and progress;

 

WHEREAS this solemn declaration and commitment to a better future has been consistently and systematically undermined by entrenched dictatorship, corruption, patronage, nepotism, cronyism, and general lack of adherence to, and abuse of the constitution;

 

CONSCIOUS that the constitution is the basis of our social contract with those who seek to lead us and that it is the duty of every Ugandan citizen, using all means possible, to resist any regime that abrogates or violates the Constitution;

 

COGNIZANT of the fact that political parties, organizations and individuals have independently and on their own not been able to cause the positive change desired to create conditions for equal opportunity and shared prosperity for every Ugandan;

 

PLEDGING OURSELVES to strive together, sparing neither strength nor courage, until we shall declare victory in our struggles against the forces of tyranny, oppression and exploitation that have undermined our progress since independence to date;

 

NOW THEREFORE, we have resolved and hereby resolve to establish The Democratic Alliance to work together for the attainment of the goals and objectives set forth in this Protocol:

 

ARTICLE I: ESTABLISHMENT OF THE DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE

1. The Democratic Alliance (also referred to in this Protocol as "the Alliance" or "TDA") is hereby established in pursuance of the goals and objectives set out in this Protocol.

 

ARTICLE II: MEMBERSHIP

2. The Democratic Alliance shall comprise of the following categories of members:

a) Registered political parties or organizations.

b) Recognized pressure groups and other citizens formations vetted and admitted in accordance with this Protocol;

c) Eminent Ugandan men and women vetted and admitted in accordance with this Protocol.

3. Membership of the Alliance shall be by:

d) Subscribing to this Protocol expressed by the signature of an authorized representative.

e) Signing a declaration in support of the Citizens Compact on Free and Fair Elections

 

ARTICLE III: GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE

4. The primary goal for which The Democratic Alliance is established is to win power and form government in order to build a Uganda where there is equal opportunity and shared prosperity for all citizens.

5. The goal of The Democratic Alliance shall be achieved through the pursuance of the following objectives:

a) Building the necessary mobilization capabilities and organizational infrastructure of the Alliance and its members in order to win power;

b) Developing and presenting a common policy and governance agenda for elections;

c) Ensuring the attainment of an electoral majority by fielding candidates for all electoral positions across the country;

d) Fielding of joint candidates for electoral offices as set out in this Protocol;

e) Constituting a Transitional Government of National Unity (TGNU) with the purpose of implementing appropriate political and economic reforms to build a strong and durable foundation for democracy, rule of law and economic justice.

 

ARTICLE IV: PRINCIPLES AND VALUES OF THE DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE

6. The Democratic Alliance shall be guided by the following principles and values:

a) Mutual respect for each other;

b) Adherence to agreed positions;

c) Transparency and accountability;

d) Integrity;

e) Respect for time;

f) A commitment to excellence.

7. For the avoidance of doubt, unless the representation provided for in any structures of the Alliance refers to experts or is based on a position held in another official position, gender parity shall be observed by the Alliance.

 

ARTICLE V: STRUCTURES AND GOVERNANCE

8. The Democratic Alliance shall have the following governance structures.

(i) The Summit;

(ii) The National Candidates Committee;

(iii) The Secretariat.

 

ARTICLE VI: THE SUMMIT

9. There shall be a Summit comprised of the following:

a) The political heads of all the political parties or organizations that are members of the Alliance.

b) The Secretaries General of all the political parties or organizations that are members of the Alliance.

c) Two representatives of each of the pressure groups or citizens' formations that are members of the Alliance.

d) Eminent Ugandan men and women constituting two thirds of the number of representatives of political parties, provided that one third of them shall be youth below the age of 35 years.

 

10. The heads of the members of the Alliance under paragraph (a) shall, communicate to the Summit in writing a person who shall be a designated alternate and has the mandate to attend the meetings of the Summit in case the principal member is unable to attend.

11. Membership of the Alliance under clause 9 (c) and (d) shall be through a vetting and admission process undertaken by the Summit.

12. The Summit shall have two co-chairpersons who shall be agreed by the Summit by consensus.

13. The positions of co-chairpersons shall be held on a one-year rotational basis commencing from the date of selection.

14. A person who is a candidate for president or who is the president in the Transitional Government of National Unity shall not be qualified to hold the position of co-chairperson.

15. A person who is a member of the Summit on account of paragraph (d) under this clause shall serve for a renewable tenure of two years.

 

ARTICLE VII: FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SUMMIT

16. The Summit shall:

a) Be the policy and decision-making organ of the Alliance.

b) Be an appellate body with respect to decisions made by other organs or structures established under this Protocol.

c) Have power to vet and decide on admission of new members of the Alliance.

d) Be responsible for fundraising and ensuring that the funds and assets of the Alliance are managed properly.

e) Be responsible for reviewing and settling disputes related to the work of the Alliance.

f) Agree on a presidential candidate for the Alliance.

g) Receive complaints from members and where necessary refer the matter to the Disputes Resolution Committee.

17. The Summit may establish Committees to enable it efficiently and effectively discharge its mandate as set out in this Protocol.

 

18. For the avoidance of doubt, the Summit shall, at its first meeting or soon thereafter establish the following committees:

a) Campaign Strategy and Coordination Committee

b) Finance and Fundraising Committee

c) Legal Affairs Committee

d) Dispute Resolution Committee

19. The Summit may adopt rules and guidelines necessary for the effective functioning of the Alliance.

 

ARTICLE VIII: THE NATIONAL CANDIDATES COMMITTEE

20. There shall be a National Candidates Committee comprised as follows:

a) Secretaries for Mobilization of the parties participating in the Alliance.

b) Five experts approved by the Summit.

c) Six eminent Ugandan men and women approved by the Summit.

d) Six youth representatives approved by the Summit.

21. The National Candidates Committee shall have the following functions:

a) To map the electoral constituencies and determine the strength of candidates.

b) To identify persons to be candidates of the Alliance at all levels.

c) To determine the joint candidates of the Alliance in accordance with the criteria set out in the Protocol.

d) To receive and process information and documentation for persons to be considered for the presidential candidate of the Alliance.

e) To recommend the candidates of the Alliance to the summit for approval.

f) To source for electable candidates where necessary.

g) To establish and coordinate District Candidates Committees or such other candidates committees as

the Committee may deem necessary and coordinate the candidates nomination process at all levels.

 

ARTICLE IX: THE NATIONAL SECRETARIAT

22. There is established a National Secretariat of The Democratic Alliance.

23. The National Secretariat shall have the following functions and responsibilities.

a) Be the central processing unit of all the actions and decisions of the structures of the Alliance.

b) Be responsible for preparing appropriate documents such as the joint policy and governance platform, the campaign road map or any other document required to be discussed and approved by any of the structures of the Alliance.

c) Organize all the meetings of the structures of the Alliance

d) Ensure that the Alliance is adequately publicized nationally and internationally and its goals and policies are well articulated.

e) Establish and maintain intensive presence on all social media and other media platforms.

f) Coordinate the Alliances policy responses to national and international events as appropriate.

g) Ensure that all members of the Alliance are provided adequate presence and visibility on all platforms of the Alliance to the extent that it is possible and practicable.

h) Coordinate the fundraising campaign of the Alliance and be responsible for managing the funds of the Alliance.

i) Produce and submit to the Summit periodic narrative and financial reports on the operations of the Secretariat.

j) Undertake research and analysis relevant to the work of the Alliance

k) Prepare annual budget for approval by the Summit.

24. The Secretariat shall have the following senior staff positions.

a) Chief Executive Officer who shall be the head of the Secretariat and accounting officer of the Alliance;

b) Chief of Strategy and Campaign Coordination;

c) Senior Policy Advisor;

d) Economic Policy Advisor;

e) Foreign Policy Advisor;

f) Communications and Media Advisor;

g) ICT Specialist;

h) Such other staff as the Chief Executive Officer may recommend and upon approval by the Summit.

25. The Staff of the Secretariat shall be recruited through a competitive recruitment process.

26. For the avoidance of doubt, the Summit shall have power to adopt any other open and transparent process in recruiting the first staff of the Secretariat.

 

ARTICLE X: CANDIDATES SELECTION CRITERIA

27. The fundamental basic criterion for selecting the candidates of the Alliance is the goal of winning an electoral majority.

28. Subject to clause 27, the National Candidates Committee shall, in the process of identifying candidates to be recommended to the Summit for approval, take into account any or all of the following criteria as appropriate:

a) Each party has an equal opportunity to field the joint candidate for the position.

b) The candidate is considered popular for the position or in the constituency for which such candidate is being considered to stand.

c) The party under which the candidate intends to stand has appropriate party structures and mobilization teams within the constituency.

d) Where an incumbent is a member of a party to the Alliance, or an independent who subscribes to the Alliance, priority shall be given to such political party or person.

e) The candidate demonstrates the commitment to the goals of the Alliance by signing to the Citizens Compact on Free and Fair Elections and this Protocol.

f) Gender parity shall be observed in the final selection of candidates.

 

The following persons shall not be considered eligible for nomination as candidates of the Alliance:

a) A person who contested and lost in the primaries of a political party that is a member of the Alliance.

b) A person who is a member of a political party who opts not to participate in a primary selection process.

c) The Summit may in its discretion chose any candidate taking into account the goal of winning an electoral majority notwithstanding paragraph (a) and (b) of this clause.

30. For purposes of clause 29 above, a primary selection process refers to a primary conducted by a member of the Alliance in accordance with the member's constitution or any other primary process conducted by the National Candidates Committee or candidates committees established in accordance with clause 2(g).

 

ARTICLE XI: SPECIAL PROVISIONS REGARDING SELECTION OF A PRESIDENTIAL

CANDIDATE AND THE CAMPAIGN TEAM OF THE ALLIANCE

31. The Presidential Candidate of the Alliance shall be agreed to by the Summit by consensus.

32. The person agreed to be the Presidential Candidate of the Alliance shall, in consultation with the Summit, select a Campaign Team of the Alliance.

33. The National Candidates Committee shall present to the Summit for approval a detailed criteria for selecting a Presidential Candidate and the Campaign Team of the Alliance.

34. For the avoidance of doubt, the Summit shall, after its first meeting, allocate to members of the Alliance designated cabinet post(s) or other agreed political positions to be held in the transitional government, provided that, unless the allocation is to a member who is an individual, the nominations to fill such positions shall only be made after winning power and at the time of constituting a government.

35. Where the Parliament declines to approve a person nominated by a member of the Alliance, the alternative person to be appointed in that position shall be nominated by the member and approved by the Summit before being forwarded to Parliament for approval.

 

ARTICLE XII: TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL UNITY

36. Upon winning power, the Alliance shall establish a Transitional Government of National Unity (TGNU), which shall serve for a period not exceeding 5 years.

37. The immediate goals of the TGNU over the transition period shall be:

d) To undertake appropriate political and electoral reforms.

e) To reorganize and rebuild state institutions and cut down the size of Government.

f) To establish a credible electoral management system and organize free and fair elections.

g) To undertake economic reforms to stimulate job-creating economic growth and create conditions for equal opportunity and shared prosperity.

h) To implement measures to eliminate the cancer of corruption.

38. Without prejudice to the limits set by the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, the following commitments shall bind the Transitional Government of National Unity:

a) A person who serves in the position of President under the transitional Government of National Unity shall not be eligible to contest for, or serve in a political office for a period of at least 5 years after the term of the Transitional Government of National Unity.

b) The Cabinet under the Transitional Government of National Unity shall be comprised of not more than

21 ministers and 21 state ministers.

c) A member of parliament who is appointed to a cabinet or other political position shall resign from parliament.

d) The President of the TGNU shall not appoint more than 10 advisers unless this commitment is varied by a decision of the Summit.

e) The Government shall ensure that political, electoral and economic reforms, including reform of public administration, are pursued within the first two years of the TGNU.

f) In all appointments, the Government shall ensure gender parity.

g) The TGNU shall ensure that equitable criteria are established to allocate funding to all duly registered  political parties, provided they demonstrate evidence of adherence to national laws and their constitutions.

h) Consistent with the principle of excellence, any nominations or appointment to any public office shall be based on merit, expertise, professionalism and integrity.

i) The Transitional Government shall present this Protocol for ratification by Parliament within not more than six months after the formation of Government.

 

ARTICLE XIII: FIELDING OF JOINT CANDIDATES

39. In pursuance of the goals and objectives set out in this Protocol, the members of The Democratic Alliance hereby agree to field joint candidates for each of the following positions:

a) President;

b) Members of Parliament;

c) Chairpersons LCV and District Councilors;

d) City and Municipal Mayors;

e) LCIII Chairpersons and LCIII Councilors

f) LCI Chairpersons

 

ARTICLE XIII: ADMISSION OF NEW MEMBERS

40. The Summit may in its unfettered discretion admit, upon a written application, any other member to the

Alliance, if it meets the following criteria:

a) The applicant is registered under the law, is a recognized pressure group or citizens' formation, or falls within the category of eminent persons.

b) Where an applicant member is a political party, such political party:

(i) Has held its National Delegates Conference (or other supreme organ of the Party) in the last five years.

(ii) Has a known physical address.

(iii) Has a functional Secretariat.

(iv) Follows its Constitution.

(v) Has participated in at least one national general election or a number of Parliamentary and District by-elections.

(vi) Is ready to abide by the goals and objectives of the Alliance.

(vii) Is not otherwise allied in anyway to another political party not a member of the Alliance.

(viii) Has been approved by two-thirds majority of the members of the Summit.

 

ARTICLE XIV: MEMBERS RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS

41. All members of the Alliance shall at all times enjoy the following rights:-

a) The right to recognition and respect of their separate identities.

b) The right to full participation in all organs and structures of the Alliance and all the activities in accordance with this protocol.

c) The right to access information in the custody of the organs and structures of the Alliance.

d) The right to be treated fairly and honestly by all other members.

e) The right to withdraw in writing from the Alliance, provided that the following conditions shall apply:-

(i) A member seeking to withdraw shall give a notice of six months.

(ii) The withdrawing member shall hand over all the assets and other materials of the Alliance in

its possession.

(iii) An application for withdrawal shall not be considered during the election period where the withdrawing party has nominated candidates for the Alliance.

(iv) A member which produced the person who is the President supported by the Alliance shall not withdraw its membership during the term of office of the President.

(v) Upon giving notice of withdrawal, the rights of membership under this Protocol shall be suspended over the period of the notice and shall cease upon the expiry of the notice.

42. All members of the Alliance shall at all times have a duty to:-

a) To act with respect and in utmost good faith towards each other and in all activities of the Alliance.

b) To render total commitment to all the aims and objectives of the Alliance.

c) To act with dignity and responsibility and to avoid all acts and omissions that would directly or indirectly undermine the credibility of any member or the aims and objectives of the Alliance.

d) To protect the good name and image of the Alliance.

e) To contribute resources to the Alliance.

f) To avoid engaging in activities that would lead to unnecessary competition between the members on matters that affect the Alliance.

 

ARTICLE XV: TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP

43. Membership of the Alliance may be terminated by a decision of half of the members of the Summit where the said member:-

a) Has departed from the goals and objectives of the Alliance as set out in this Protocol and the proposals contained in the Citizens Compact on Free and Fair Elections.

b) The actions of the member are inconsistent with the goals, objectives and the spirit of this Protocol and the Alliance.

c) A decision to terminate the membership of any party to the Alliance shall be made based on the recommendation of the Dispute Resolution Committee and following due process.

 

ARTICLE XVI: FUNDING OF THE ALLIANCE AND ITS ACTIVITIES

44. The funds of the Alliance shall be derived from:-

a) Contributions from the members

b) Direct contributions from citizens

c) Contributions from Government

d) Donations

e) Any other lawful source.

45. The Summit shall adopt rules, procedures and guidelines to govern the utilization of funds and assets of the Alliance.

46. The rules to be developed and presented to the Committee by the Secretariat shall, among other things, ensure that such funds and assets are utilized in a transparent and accountable manner, derives the highest value for money and are utilized exclusively for purposes that promote the goals and objectives of the Alliance as stipulated in this Protocol.

47. A member of the Alliance may not be precluded from engaging in fundraising activities in the pursuance of their objectives provided they do not prejudice the activities of the Alliance.

 

ARTICLE XVII: DISPUTE RESOLUTION

48. In case any disagreement arises between any members of the Alliance, whether directly related to the work of the Alliance or would indirectly impact on the attainment of the goals and objectives of the Alliance as set out in this Protocol, such disagreement shall be resolved following the procedures below:-

a) The matter that is the subject of the dispute shall be submitted to the Summit, which shall address the complaint and resolve the dispute through consensus.

b) At all times when the dispute is under management for resolution, all members of the Alliance shall avoid public discussion of the dispute.

 

ARTICLE XVIII: RESTRICTION ON THE REGISTRATION OF THE ALLIANCE

49. No person or group of persons shall register The Democratic Alliance as a political party or organization unless such registration is pursued in compliance with a decision adopted by the Summit.

 

ARTICLE XIX: AMENDMENT OF THE PROTOCOL

 

50. A proposal to amend any provision of this Protocol shall be made in writing addressed to the Co-Chairs of the Summit and copied to all the members.

51. A decision to amend the provision of this protocol shall be made by the Summit by consensus.

 

ARTICLE XX: DISSOLUTION OF THE ALLIANCE

52. The Summit may agree to dissolve the Alliance and in such event the Summit shall determine the terms of such dissolution including succession as to the assets and liabilities of the Alliance.

53. A decision to dissolve the Alliance shall be considered adopted if it is supported by not less than two thirds of all the members of the Summit.

54. The Summit shall not have powers to dissolve the Alliance over the duration of the Transitional Government of National Unity.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the authorized signatories of the Members have put their respective hands hereunto this 10th day of June in the year two thousand and fifteen.

 

SIGNED and SEALED by the } ________________________________________________________

CONSERVATIVE PARTY } PRESIDENT GENERAL

SIGNED and SEALED by the } ________________________________________________________

DEMOCRATIC PARTY } PRESIDENT

SIGNED and SEALED by the } ________________________________________________________

FORUM FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE } PRESIDENT

SIGNED and SEALED by the } ________________________________________________________

JUSTICE FORUM } PRESIDENT

SIGNED and SEALED by the } ________________________________________________________

PEOPLES PROGRESSIVE PARTY } PRESIDENT

SIGNED and SEALED by the } ________________________________________________________

PRESSURE FOR NATIONAL UNITY } PRESIDENT

SIGNED and SEALED by the } ________________________________________________________

UGANDA FEDERAL ALLIANCE } PRESIDENT

SIGNED and SEALED by the } ________________________________________________________

UGANDA PEOPLES CONGRESS} PRESIDENT

ALL IN THE PRESENCE OF

FR. GAETANO BATANYENDA } ________________________________________________________

EMINENT PERSON

BISHOP MACLEORD BAKER OCHOLA II } ________________________________________________________

EMINENT PERSON

IMAM KASOZI } ________________________________________________________

EMINENT PERSON

BISHOP ZAC NIRINGIYE } ________________________________________________________

EMINENT PERSON

DR. THELMA AWORI } ________________________________________________________

CO-CHAIR OF THE CONSULTATION

PROF. FREDRICK SSEMPEBWA } ________________________________________________________

CO-CHAIR OF THE CONSULTATION

 

ANNEX 1

DECLARATION IS SUPPORT OF THE CITIZENS COMPACT ON FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS

This declaration is made in support of the Citizens Compact on Free and Fair Elections adopted by the national

Consultation on Free and Fair Elections held in Kampala-Uganda on November 24-26, 2014. The Citizens Compact

represents the views of majority citizens' views collected from the regions and districts of Uganda during the

consultation process.

So I pledge

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H.OGWAPITI
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"To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that  we are to stand by the president right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic  and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public."
---Theodore Roosevelt

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