From Allafrica · · 1m 10s
Uganda Rejects Political Detainee Release for National Dialogue
Uganda's justice minister refuses to release political detainees as a precondition for national talks.
In brief
Uganda's justice minister refuses to release political detainees as a precondition for national talks. Uganda's justice minister says political detainees should be discussed in dialogue, not released before negotiations start. Originally reported by Allafrica.
Mao rejects detainee release precondition
Justice Minister Norbert Mao says political detainees should not be released before national dialogue negotiations start.
“It is a legitimate demand. I am privy to some of the details of these charges, and I don't want to say too much because it is up to the courts to decide.”
Opposition demands detainee release
Opposition leaders want political detainees released and exiles returned before substantive negotiations begin.
“They argued that the affected individuals were important stakeholders whose absence could undermine the credibility and inclusiveness of the proposed dialogue.”
Mao acknowledges demands but cautions
Mao says the demands are legitimate but insists on court decisions for detainees before dialogue.
“You cannot say that before we talk, you must first release those who are in court”
Consociational democracy proposal
Political parties adopt 120-page consociational democracy framework for power-sharing.
“Consociational democracy is a power-sharing model designed to accommodate significant political, ethnic, religious or other groups within a country's political system”
Mao calls for parliamentary reform
Mao says parliamentary representation needs changes to reflect population differences.
“We have some legal reforms that we need to put in place. One, we believe that the principle of proportionality is very important. Right now, the representation in Parliament doesn't reflect the population”
Mao highlights electoral commission concerns
Mao says electoral commission members need independence to prevent malpractice.
“Their allegiance should be to the Constitution and the country, so their independence needs to be safeguarded so that the quality of elections improves”
Museveni approves proposals
President Museveni has read and approved consociational democracy framework.
“I am aware that the President read through the proposals which Prof Ogenga drafted with Gen. Salim Saleh and he is okay with everything in that paper”
National dialogue preparations
Political leaders meet to discuss consociational democracy framework and resolve detainee issues.
“The proposal's adoption by participants marks a step towards further consultations, but disagreements over political detainees and the return of exiled political actors remain unresolved”
Next steps for dialogue
National Consultative Forum will consider consociational democracy framework further.
“Opposition leaders maintain that all key political stakeholders should be able to participate in meaningful negotiations, while Mao argues that the outstanding issues should be discussed during the dialogue rather than prevent it from starting”
What it means
Uganda's justice minister says political detainees should be discussed in dialogue, not released before negotiations start.