{UAH} Uganda Votes: Suggestions For Feb 13 Presidential Debate

http://www.burkinastyle.com/content/uganda-votes-some-critical-issues-discuss-next-presidential-debate

Uganda Votes: Some Critical Issues To Discuss In Next Presidential Debate

BY ERIC KASHAMBUZI

Uganda Votes:  Some Critical Issues To Discuss In Next Presidential Debate

Proposals for the second presidential debate:

A review of the first debate for the 2016 presidential elections which was boycotted by President Yoweri Museveni, flag bearer of NRM, has concluded that:

1. The presidential candidates during the first debate gave a rich menu of what they would do if elected the next president of Uganda.

2. The question of "how" they would deliver what they promised was unsatisfactorily answered despite the moderators probing.

3. Some questions were not answered at all such as a strategy for incorporating the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development into Uganda's national plan. When candidates do not answer the question they should be reminded.

4. Some candidates like Mbabazi and Besigye were asked harder or more sensitive questions than the other candidates thereby unfairly influencing the overall assessment of candidates.

It is recommended that in the second round of the debate the moderators should focus inter alia:

1. On the "how" questions. For example, some candidates promised to industrialize Uganda during the next five years.

How is the next president going to do it when trade in manufactured products in Uganda is open to all manufactures according to the East African Community arrangements as well as World Trade Organization (WTO) rules? Some candidates promised to invest in virtually everything from education to healthcare, infrastructure to agriculture to tourism, and so forth.

Given Uganda's low taxation base where will they get the revenue for this ambitious agenda especially bearing in mind that the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development concluded that governments should fund national programs using domestically generated resources?

2. There are some burning national issues that every candidate should answer so that the successful candidate is held accountable. The burning issues include:

(a) Land ownership and utilization

(b) A system of governance between federalism and unitary or a combination of both as appropriate

(c) National unity or transitional government that would include all stakeholders

(d) Proportional representation -- no "winner-take-all" politics.

(e) Reviewing the 1995 constitution

(f) Presidential term limits

(g) East African economic integration and political federation

(h) Youth unemployment

(i) Truth and Reconciliation Commission

(j) Size of the cabinet, presidential advisers and embassies

(k) Population growth and birth control/family planning

(l) Human trafficking/slave trade
These are the major concerns that have emerged as we get closer to February 18 when the next president and members of parliament will be elected hopefully in a peaceful atmosphere so that voters can freely elect their representatives.

We appeal to the security forces to demonstrate their professionalism and service to the people of Uganda. We trust that the election observers (domestic and foreign) will make sure that a level playing field exists for all candidates and voters.

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Milton Allimadi, Publisher/CEO
The Black Star News

www.blackstarnews.com

P.O. Box 1472

New York, N.Y., 10274

(646) 261-7566

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