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HOSTILE TO DEMOCRACY

The Movement System and Political Repression in Uganda

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

ACRONYMS

I. SUMMARY
Legal Restrictions on Civil and Political Rights
The Movement System: Towards a One-Party State in Uganda?
Violations of the Rights to Freedom of Association and Assembly
Restrictions on Civil Society and the Media
Abuse of Treason Charges
The Role of the International Community

II. RECOMMENDATIONS
To the Ugandan Government
To the Uganda Human Rights Commission
To the International Community
To the Commonwealth and its Member States

III. INTRODUCTION

IV. UGANDA'S OBLIGATIONS UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW
Freedom of Association
Freedom of Assembly
Political Rights: Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
International Standards and the Regulation of Political Organizations
Democracy and Civil and Political Rights

V. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
The Colonial Period
Uganda's Independence and the First Obote Government
Idi Amin's Reign of Terror
The Second Obote Government and the "Bush War"
The Early NRM Period: Administrative Bans and Military Control
The Odoki Commission
The Constituent Assembly and the Making of the Constitution

VI. THE MOVEMENT SYSTEM AND POLITICAL FREEDOMS IN UGANDA
Towards a Human Rights Culture in Uganda
    Commission of Inquiry into Human Rights Violations
    Uganda Human Rights Commission (HRC)
    The Role of Parliament
    The Decentralization Process
Museveni's Theory of the No-Party State
The Constitutional Restrictions on Political Rights
The Movement Act: A State-Sponsored Political Party in Disguise
    The Local Council System
    The Movement Structures
Chaka-mchaka: Political Education for Social Control?
Violations of the Right to Freedom of Association
Violations of the Right to Freedom of Assembly
    President Clinton's March 1998 Visit
    May 1998 Arrests of Members of Parliament
    Seminars broken up in June and July 1998
    Seminars Disrupted in July and August 1998
    Opposition Politician Chapaa Arrested
    Member of Parliament Wasswa Lule Arrested
    Arrest of FAD Officials in Moyo
    Harassment of NDF Activist
    Local Official Harassed after FAD Seminar
    Detention and Questioning of NDF Member
The Ban on Party Conferences and Freedom of Association and Assembly
The Proposed Political Organizations Bill
    The Exclusion of the NRM "Movement" Structures from Regulation
    Onerous Restrictions on the Establishment of Political Parties
    The Exclusion of Certain Groups from Political Activities
    Continuing Restrictions on the Activities of Political Parties
The Referendum on Political Parties in the Year 2000
    The Adoption of the Referendum Act
    Continuing Restrictions during the Referendum Period
    The Rejection of the Referendum by the Opposition
    The Referendum and International Standards

VI. CIVIL SOCIETY AND THE MEDIA IN UGANDA
Restrictions on NGO Activities
    Refusal to Register Uganda National NGO Forum
    Revocation of UHEDOC Registration
    Delay in Registration of NOCEM
    NRM Efforts to Organize Civil Society
    Restrictions on Press Freedom

VII. THE MOVEMENT SYSTEM AND THE CONFLICTS IN WESTERN AND NORTHERN UGANDA
The Movement System and Conflict

VIII. ARBITRARY PRE-TRIAL DETENTION: THE ABUSE OF TREASON AND OTHER PUBLIC ORDER CHARGES
Torture, Coerced Confessions, and Treason Charges
Abuse of Treason Charges as a Method of Political Control
Use of Treason Charges Against Children

IX. THE ROLE OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
Old Wine in New Bottles: The Shortcomings of the "New Leaders" Model
Flawed Engagement and Conspicuous Silence
The United States
The European Union and its Member States
A Star Pupil, Sheltered by the Word Bank?
The Impact of the International Community's Lack of Resolve

APPENDIX I: SELECTED ARTICLES FROM UGANDA'S CONSTITUTION (1995)

APPENDIX II: SELECTED ARTICLES OF THE UGANDA PENAL CODE