• Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Donate
  • Login
Watchdog Uganda
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Media Outreach Newswire
    • Africa News
    • Tourism
    • Community News
    • Luganda
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Politics
    • Relationships
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • People
    • Showbiz
      • Salon Mag
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Voices
  • Reviews
    • Products
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • WD-TV
  • Donate
  • China News
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Media Outreach Newswire
    • Africa News
    • Tourism
    • Community News
    • Luganda
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Politics
    • Relationships
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • People
    • Showbiz
      • Salon Mag
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Voices
  • Reviews
    • Products
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • WD-TV
  • Donate
  • China News
No Result
View All Result
Watchdog Uganda
No Result
View All Result

OPINION: 10 reasons why some people feel Uganda is undemocratic

watchdog by watchdog
6 years ago
in Special Report, Voices
5 0
ShareTweetSendShare

By Fortunate Ahimbisibwe

Freedom or liberty means more than simply not being imprisoned or enslaved. It means having the right to act, speak and think as you choose, without oppressive restrictions imposed on you by others, including those in authority. It applies in your personal, family and social life as well as to your political views and in your economic transactions with others.

Freedom means that no obstacles are put in your way, and no restraints prevent you from acting as you choose. It means not being coerced, directed, threatened, intimidated, pressurised, imposed on, interfered with or manipulated by others. It means being able to get on with your life without being attacked, defrauded, robbed or harmed. That is so because the principle of freedom applies equally to everyone in a free society.

You may agree or disagree depending on where you stand, but like Mugisha Muntu says, sooner or later, injustice does not discriminate, it will find you where you are. Some Ugandans think that Uganda is under an oppressive regime that uses force to suppress dissent, typical of other African dictatorships. However, there is divided opinion. Others think Uganda is now a free society.

According to Freedom House report of 2018 Uganda is classified as Partly Free, it has moved from Not Free in 2017. That’s considered an improvement.

“While Uganda holds regular elections, their credibility has deteriorated over time, and the country has been ruled by the same party and president since 1986. The ruling party, the National Resistance Movement (NRM), retains power through the manipulation of state resources, intimidation by security forces, and politicized prosecutions of opposition leaders. Uganda’s civil society and media sectors remain vibrant, despite suffering sporadic legal and extralegal harassment and state violence,” the latest report says.

Some of the barriers to a free society:

1. Public Order Management Act of 2013: The archaic law restricts people’s freedom to hold assemblies. POMA gives police powers to stop a public meeting. Under section 5, an organiser is required to give notice in writing to the authorized officer of the intention to hold a public meeting, at least three days but not more than 15 days before the proposed date of the public meeting.
The law only asks one to notify police but it subsequently gives police room to find an excuse to stop your meeting. In a country where Police is controlled by the Executive, this law has been used to restrict freedom of assembly, a fundamental human right.

2. Media censorship: In a free and democratic society, media freedom is grounded on an overwhelming political consensus that a free press serves a fundamental public interest – speaking truth to power. And doing so without fear or favour …no matter how inconvenient it might prove for the powerful. Does this happen in Uganda? Again, depends where you stand. Andrew Mwenda is on record for quitting The Monitor newspaper because he said that Government was interfering in the editorial direction of the newspaper. He said the newspaper had lost its independence. The same newspaper has been shut down for weeks by the State.

3. Democracy and rule of law: A one man rule for 33 years cant be considered a democracy no matter how well you dress it with periodic elections every 5 years especially when rules have been changed to favour the incumbent. Opposition groups are hindered by restrictive party registration requirements and candidate eligibility rules, the use of government resources to support NRM candidates, a lack of access to state media coverage, state violence and harassment, and paramilitary groups that intimidate voters and government opponents.

4. Restrictions on Political mobilisation: Politicians that are a perceived as a threat are now allowed to mobilise around the country. The military and Police are used to harass opponents because these institutions are closely aligned with the regime.

5. Violations of human rights: One man spent spent Christmas in jail on account of a law that scrapped off the country’s legal system. Stella Nyanzi is in prison for just writing what she thinks, Kasese execution, Arua saga etc

6. Unexplained/unresolved murders: There are many high profile cases to show this scenario. AIGP Andrew Felix Kaweesi, DPC Kirumira, Abiriga, Moslem Sheikhs etc. Feel free to name them.

7. Inequitable distribution of resources, opportunities unfair competition for opportunities: Increasing unemployment has put pressure on the few jobs available, therefore, those who gets jobs have to use unconventional methods to get into work. This has increased nepotism and patronage.

8. Abuse of the Uganda Constitution: The Constitution serves the interests of one man and this changes from time to time, as and when it suits him. When Museveni wanted term limits removed, it was done, when he wanted age limit removed, it happened, whatever else he wishes that is in the constitution, it happens.

There are many cases of human rights violations, state sponsored violence, torture and State intimidation: You have seen how the military clobbers people during demonstrations. James Akena, of Reuters wasn’t spared last year.

Finally, state sponsored corruption and abuse of public resources: There is an increasing belief that some people are allowed to be corrupt and nothing happens. There is selective justice, for example, Sam Kuteesa whose name appears in every financial scandal gets away with it, all the time.

Most important is financial freedom. Poor people can’t be free…to be free is to be able to afford the basic needs of life. Economic freedom is the real freedom. Are you financially free? Is the Government helping you to achieve this? Again, it depends on which side of river you feed from. In spite of the gains, there is still a lot to be achieved.


Do you have a story in your community or an opinion to share with us: Email us at editorial@watchdoguganda.com
Share15Tweet1SendShare

Related Posts

Business

Who is Bosco Muwonge, Uganda’s elusive real estate billionaire?

4th July 2025 at 08:16
Business

How Kalangala Island’s Victoria Forest Resort Hotel Became a Beacon for Preserving Uganda’s Culture and Boosting Tourism

4th July 2025 at 07:50
Speke Resort Munyonyo Hosts Groundbreaking Leadership Training for Senior Staff
Business

Speke Resort Munyonyo Hosts Leadership Training for Senior Staff

1st July 2025 at 14:06
Next Post

Former Kibuli SS head accused of sleeping with students posted to Mbale in school heads redeployment

  • Prostitution in Uganda- Courtesy Photo

    10 dangerous hotspots known for prostitutes in Kampala

    1113 shares
    Share 445 Tweet 278
  • Silent Billionaire Bosco Muwonge Buys Mukwano Arcade at UGX 250 Billion Cash Down

    38 shares
    Share 15 Tweet 10
  • LIST: New salary structure for civil servants starting July 2020 out; scientists, lecturers get juicy pay rise

    2286 shares
    Share 914 Tweet 572
  • Uganda’s Billionaires 2025: Once Again Sudhir Ruparelia Leads a Resilient Pack

    45 shares
    Share 18 Tweet 11
  • LIST : Gov’t releases Revised Salary Structure for Teachers, Police, and Prisons Staff for FY 2024/2025

    120 shares
    Share 48 Tweet 30
Facebook Twitter

Contact Information

Watchdog Uganda is a portal for solution journalism, trending news plus cutting edge commentaries in the fields of politics, security, business, tourism, entertainment, technology, agriculture, climate change, environment, public health et al. We also give preference to Ugandan community news and topical discussions. The portal also publishes community news and topical discussions.

Email: editorial@watchdoguganda.com
To Advertise:Click here

Latest News

CAN JOHN BOSCO MUWONGE CLAIM A SPOT AMONG AFRICA’S WEALTHIEST?

5th July 2025 at 18:09
Bwanika Joseph

BWANIKA JOSEPH: The Ballot and the Briefcase, Uganda’s Corporate Workers Must Vote for Fairness and Dignity

5th July 2025 at 10:36

Check out

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Minister Muruli Mukasa

LIST: New salary structure for civil servants starting July 2020 out; scientists, lecturers get juicy pay rise

24th May 2020 at 10:45
Pregnant woman

Shock as 17-year old boy impregnates his two sisters during Covid-19 lockdown 

17th June 2020 at 08:17
Sudhir Ruparelia is set to speak at business forum in United Kingdom

Billionaire Sudhir’s wisdom on how to invest in real estate

0

How a boy’s destiny turned from cotton grower to communications guru

0

CAN JOHN BOSCO MUWONGE CLAIM A SPOT AMONG AFRICA’S WEALTHIEST?

5th July 2025 at 18:09
Bwanika Joseph

BWANIKA JOSEPH: The Ballot and the Briefcase, Uganda’s Corporate Workers Must Vote for Fairness and Dignity

5th July 2025 at 10:36

© 2025 Watchdog Uganda

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Media Outreach Newswire
    • Africa News
    • Tourism
    • Community News
    • Luganda
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Politics
    • Relationships
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • People
    • Showbiz
      • Salon Mag
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Voices
  • Reviews
    • Products
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • WD-TV
  • Donate
  • China News

© 2025 Watchdog Uganda