MAJ (RTD) OKWIRI RABWONI
31st March 2012
While appearing on Capital Gang today, The Executive Director for the Center for Constitutional Governance Maj (Rtd) Okwiri Rabwoni said that its time for Ugandans to engage and forge a way forward on the critical governance issues in the country. He raised key governance issues like the power of the Presidency in Uganda which over shadows other institutions in the country; need to restore Presidential Term Limits in Uganda's Constitution; need for the youths/students who are the majority in this country to question certain decisions and demand for responsive leadership; among others.
Other guests on this popular political talk show included Mr. Ofwono Opondo, Hon Vicent Kyamadidi, Hon Ssemujju Nganda, and Hon Chris Byomunsi. Hon Ssemunju Nganda raised the issue of having leadership and key leaders coming from all areas of the country and clearly stated that this is his basis for being opposed to any other key leader coming from Western Uganda.
While responding to Hon SSemujju's submission, Rabwoni, a reknown Pan Africanist stated that he cannot get involved in tribal issues while making a choice for national/political leaders. He further affirmed that he had heard such sentiments being raised by some people aopposed to Muntu's candidature as FDC President simply because he comes from Westren Uganda. This, he says is secterian politics that absolutely have no space in today's conteporary governance. Leaders should be assessed based on their leadership qualities and values and not their tribes or their areas of origin.
Rabwoni further informed the leaders about the need to strengthen national institutions to rise above individuals; the need to strengthen civil society institutions; the need to ensure that Ugandans understand their constitution and can always use it as key reference point in all their engagements and the need to have theyouths/students at the center of all our governance engagements because the future of Uganda belongs to them.
FOR GOD AND MY COUNTRY
Okwiri Rabwoni has a point. We cannot choose leaders as if we are looking for tribal chiefs. We should assess leaders based on their qualities, values, capacities and virtures.
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