The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Policy Brief outlines the entire policy framework that serves as a guide to its governance strategy and ideals. It is benchmarked on the need and commitment to establish clean leadership and good governance.
As the country transits from individual-merit Movement system of governance to multiparty political dispensation, the need for viable policy options has become increasingly necessary to steer the country from the tenacity of individual and dictatorial rule to people-driven governance that cherishes empowerment and meaningful participation of all the people.
PPP, mindful of its people-centred ideals, commits itself to build a structure, based on sound mechanisms, instruments and institutions of a democratic character that have as their aim the securing of a conducive and equitable peaceful environment for political competition and activism.
Banking on the rich experience, integrity and nobility of its founders and promoters, PPP will always remain devoted to its mission of building sustainable institutions of governance. This Policy Brief is conceived as a tool in paving the way for national harmony, justice and restoration of democratic governance that will not only secure enduring political stability, progress and guarantee human rights for all, but will ultimately secure a holistic decent livelihood for every Ugandan.
The policy brief is presented under ten (10) thematic areas namely: Democracy and Good Governance; National Unity, Reconciliation, and Peace, National Security, National Economy, Agriculture; Education; Youth and Unemployment; Labour and Social Development; Health; and Regional and International Relations. Each of the thematic areas is of CRITICAL CONCERN to the party.
NATIONAL UNITY, RECONCILIATION AND PEACE
Uganda’s history is characterized by shameless bloodshed in the guise of liberation or as different leaderships strove to maintain their grip on power by the barrel of the gun. Avoidable civil wars have been orchestrated and have devastated our country to the point of disintegration. Brutal and murder regimes have perpetuated massive bloodshed, leaving millions of hearts bleeding hibernating seeds of hatred that could sprout into cycles of revenge.
This debilitating situation has been caused and sustained by a leadership crisis that has remained unresolved to date The majority of our leaders have constantly lost conscience with regard to their obligations to the suffering Ugandans. Insatiable lust for money and accumulation of ill-gotten property has transformed corruption and embezzlement into a norm under the present regime.
Balkanization of Uganda’s populace along political, economic, ethnic and tribal divides continue to set asunder communities that have previously lived in harmony for ages. Armed conflicts and other forms of civil strife have not only led to untold loss of lives but have continued to pit communities against one another. Political patronage and regimented structures of coercion have helped the current regime to stay in power through utter disregard and manipulation of the Constitution.
PPP, committed to transform this civic distortion, firmly believes that conscientious learning from our past has a major determining influence on whether our beloved country will achieve long-term peace and stability. PPP will untiringly pursue national reconciliation programmes and initiatives aimed at healing the past ills and abuses and preventing future reoccurrence and also repairing the damage already inflicted on the people in various regions in terms of deaths and suffering.
Our government will ensure that the victims and the society as a whole heal from the wounds inflicted upon them by the divisive politics. Our ultimate aim will be to achieve national reconciliation, national unity, reconstructing the institutions necessary for stable political and economic systems, and obtaining the resources necessary to fund the transition. Rule of law and respect for Human Rights will be the cornerstone of PPP governance.
DEMOCRACY AND GOOD GOVERNANCE
Overview
PPP is deeply concerned about the continuing disregard for democracy and the abject poverty that engulfs the majority of the population of Uganda. A change in the essence of leadership in our country is long overdue for the redemption of democratic rule and the economy fostered by genuine pro-people programmes.
Indubitably, the historical land mark of colonialism and its devices was such an unfortunate occurrence that registered its ugly mark on many African states Uganda inclusive, however half a century down the self drive road Uganda can no longer hide its weakness under the guise of the past. It’s high time our leadership realized that times are fast changing and that there is no other alternative to genuine democracy. Change is needed Now!
Indeed democracy has become one of the core and foremost concern of the people the world over to the extent that millions of men and women, young and old are tempted to make enormous sacrifices to secure it. This is the value of democracy to modern mankind.
Good and accountable governance is the basis for bringing about this change. These are the ideals of PPP and the cornerstone of its policies. PPP cherishes and advocates for a government put in place by the people through a fair and transparent electoral process which is accountable to the electorate, free of gerrymandering and manipulation, and all other electoral malpractices.
This situation requires a new chapter of clean and committed leadership devoid of corruption, nepotism, and dedicated to restore the morale, dignity and confidence of the people of Uganda in themselves and their nation. PPP will provide a Government able to establish and sustain an all-inclusive mechanism and processes of democracy to inspire and empower the population at all levels to participate in their own governance and development.
Restoration of Institutions of Governance
The institutional and state system breakdown in Uganda through “Privatization of the State” where leaders mainly act in their individual interest and that of their relatives requires urgent redress.
Sadly the process has led to the emergence of political cliques conspiring against each other for the control of state resources and organs as private domain of the individuals to the detriment of all Ugandans.
In the eyes of the PPP, to avoid an impending state predation the building and restoration of strong and independent institutions is fundamental. Stable institutions set a stage for democratic dispensation and are essential for monitoring transparency and accountability.
As a responsible government, PPP will establish effective procedures and capacity for ensuring that those who have the responsibility to enforce the law and deliver public goods execute their mandate expeditiously, without interference, fear or favour.
To achieve this, PPP shall undertake appropriate policy reforms and ensure that they are effectively implemented.
System of Governance - Unitary Vs Federalism
The People’s Progressive Party contends that the unitary system of governance which we have tried to establish in our country since the mid sixties has failed with disastrous consequences. We have in vain persisted on creating an omelette NATION by first breaking the shells of the various units that constitute Uganda.
It is high time we searched our souls for an alternative to this omelette type of a NATION, which so far has proved to be a mirage. The People’s Progressive Party proposes and is committed to the establishment of a federal system of governance which will be based on the already Contitutionalised units referred to as Regional Tiers (government). The PPP will propose a national conference to be convened composed of representatives from those units to decide on which powers should be kept at the central government level and which powers should be the preserve of the federal states and local governments.
Systematic exclusion of some sections of our people in political processes and resource distribution has often been a recipe for marginalization, armed conflicts and its attendant destruction and human suffering, resulting in political and social instability. To avert this trend, our Party while in government will put in place affirmative mechanisms which will focus the less endowed regions of our country, and the marginalized and vulnerable people in our society. War ravaged areas of the country including the north, most of the east and Luwero triangle shall receive special attention.
We are all too painfully aware that in spite of the constitutional mandate that power belongs to the people; ordinary people have often faced difficulty in having their voices heard. This has been the case since political institutions are often captured by the privileged elite ignoring the demographic weight of the poor as majority.
To effectively address this imbalance, PPP will, among other things, build the capacity of the people and operate a political system which provides opportunities for every one. Essential benchmarks, upon which the performance of government in meeting the aspirations of the poor will be pronounced, assessed and operationalized.
To achieve this, PPP shall;
- Create a conducive environment for people to exploit their talent and skills.
- Promote and vehemently support the right of the people to participate in the conduct of public affairs. It will be fair play to all citizens without discrimination.
- Create mechanisms, opportunities and avenues for people to be actively involved in political as well as economic and social decision-making and implementation to ensure that their felt-needs are identified and acted upon by the government.
- Protect and promote traditional and cultural values and institutions that ensure civility, respect for each other and harmony.
Fundamental Human Rights for all
Protection, promotion and respect for fundamental human rights for all the citizens underlie the political culture of the People’s Progressive Party. It will be an obligation to our government to respect and protect human rights.
The obligation to respect human rights shall ban our government and all its organs and agents from doing anything that negates the sanctity of human rights or undermines their realization.
Corruption and Abuse of Power
Corruption, incidental or institutional, has been the single most debilitating factor constraining development and equitable delivery of services. Unfortunately, corruption in Uganda has become a celebrated norm, not a vice to be condemned and punished.
In present day Uganda, it invites no debate that the regime’s manipulation of structures and institutions of the state by the ruling elite aimed at misallocation and misdistribution of public goods and services, lead to stinking corruption the country is engulfed in.
It’s no secret that the Ugandan Government created various legal instruments and institutions to check corruption and thereafter washed off its hands. However Law per se does not eradicate corruption. Rather, a determined and operationalised will of the leadership to fight and stamp out corruption is the only tested and proven device against the vice and this can only be achieved by taking uncompromising action against any corrupt official regardless of his or her background.
Needless to mention when a regime creates and develops a cartel of marketeers and profiteers around itself, the rest of the society has no other option but follow suit at the expense of the public good.
It is common knowledge that corruption is rampant in all sectors of the economy. There is evidence that even some officers and organs of government vested with the responsibility of administration of Justice, the Police, the Judiciary, the Inspectorate of Government, and the institution of the Auditor General, among others, are themselves immersed in corruption. Consequently, the ordinary citizen who is looking for justice has no one to turn to.
Endemic corruption is commonly known to emerge from and persistently thrive under these circumstances;
- Graft, greed and selfishness by the leadership.
- Lack of patriotism, political will and commitment to fight the vice.
- Rigid and bureaucratic rules and regulations which often lack clarity.
- Loopholes in the existing legal and regulatory mechanisms making enforcement and compliance difficult.
- Inadequate pay and poor working terms and conditions.
- The breakdown of cultural values and ethics giving rise to widespread social delinquency.
- Lack of a national ideology, direction, and vision for the nation.
PPP will undertake a broad spectrum of well defined political, legislative, policy and administrative measures and programmes to fight the vice. These measures will include;
- Strengthening the anti-corruption legislation and organs.
- Strengthening the anti-corruption court, including streamlining the legal procedures.
- Improving remuneration and conditions of service in the public service to ensure transparency, quality, merit and efficiency.
- Make information on accounting of public funds more accessible for public knowledge and scrutiny.
- Promote sustainable public education and awareness about the seriousness of corruption and its impediment to the economy and development of the country.
- Mentor the youth for leadership based on integrity, commitment to serving the community, respect for rule of law and observance of Human Rights.
Death penalty
Death penalty is in fact premeditated and cold-blooded killing of a human being by the state. There is a litany of justifications which are not universal but differ from state to state for those governments practicing the death penalty.
The people's progressive party has had a close look at issues surrounding the death penalty. Here in Uganda our Penal Code Act lists a number of crimes and offences that should attract the death penalty and they include: Treason, murder, armed robbery, armed smuggling. The National Resistance Army (NRA), now, the Uganda People's Defense Forces (UPDF) had their own code of conduct while still in the bush and some aspects of this code was incorporated into our penal code such as rape and disobedience of a lawful order resulting in loss of life.
During Amin's era, treason suspects were executed publicly but still Amin was overthrown militarily. Murders, armed robberies and rape are still rampant in Uganda to day. Security people are still misusing their weapons on daily basis .The logic of using death penalty as deterrence is not supported by evidence. Then there is the argument for retribution which maintains that certain offenders must be killed not to prevent crime but rather justice demands so. Again in practice injustice and arbitrariness in executing the death penalty runs against this argument.
The death penalty is supposed to deter political violence such as bombings, kidnappings, assassinations of public officials and other politically motivated acts of violence, Studies have clearly indicated that killings of offenders have not prevented these acts of terrorism.
There is compelling evidence to suggest that many states use the death penalty to silence their opponents. It is a common practice in Africa that when a new government comes to power, one of the first acts of magnanimity of the head of state is to free some prisoners and exercise his prerogative of mercy on some of the prisoners on the death row.
The PPP totally agrees with the amnesty international that states should abolish the death penalty and while in government, we are going to effect this.
Terrorism
As a Party we are of the view that terrorism is a product of suppression of people's rights and freedoms including the right to property such as land. Politically induced terrorism has usually resulted from bad governance and lack of respect for basic, human rights. In some cases terrorism is a result of religious conflict. Terror activities across the world have included assassinations of public officials, kidnappings, aircraft hijackings, bombing of public places and military attack and killings of innocent communities. Because of globalization, these terror acts normally affect a cross-section of innocent persons in addition to their original targets. The effects of terrorism are devastating to the human population.
One of the key objectives of the People’s Progressive Party is to promote good neighborliness, with special attention to the great lakes region by emphasizing political diplomacy through dialogue and negotiations as opposed to flexing of muscles that has bred internal and cross-boarder wars.
The people's progressive party will co-operate with any authorities that are fighting terrorism. Fundamentally the party will always advocate for good governance and respect for human rights .The party believes in dialogue and negotiations.
A PPP led government will do every thing possible to avoid breeding or condoning terrorists within the boundaries of Uganda. We would like to assure those principled, peace loving governments, organizations and agents in the world who are fighting terrorism today that you have a trusted ally in the People's Progressive Party.
THE ENVIRONMENT
Issues of the environment have assumed a level of serious concern both globally and locally and are now part and parcel of development, especially in Tropical Africa. It will not be possible to enhance development and improve the livelihood of the poor and the national or regional economies on the continent without adjustment to the damage being done on ecosystems. An example: studies in Uganda indicate that if the present rate of deforestation at 100,000 hectares per annum continues unabated, 80% of the country will turn into desert land in the next 100 years.
PPP will take effective measures first to educate the masses and make them aware of the potential catastrophes facing them especially the consequences of “climate change”. Because of greed, graft and self-aggrandizement and corruption, the present regime has shied away and failed to seriously pronounce itself on issues of environment at the expense of the future of our country. They have converted to their lucrative products of the ecosystems like timber and illegally steeled in forest, wetlands and flood control belts in urban centers.
They have virtually ignored enforcement of policy and relevant legislation. PPP will be honest to address all these issues and adopt measures for the protection/restoration of the vital ecological systems. It will strengthen the regulatory mechanism and functions and enforce compliance, all in the interest of posterity and humanity.
Population and the Eco-system
The living planet index which shows the up-to-date state of the earth’s ecological systems shows that the human demand on natural resources in developing countries like Uganda is becoming increasingly unsustainable. Since the land and ecosystems are not elastic, the pressure from human population and other living animals must be understood clearly and taken account of seriously in the development process. Humanity depends on healthy ecosystems. They support or improve the quality of our life, and without them, the earth would be inhabitable. The problems of endemic shortage of food, water, fuel-wood and energy, severe droughts and flooding, increased vector-diseases, are in the main consequences of degradation of the environment carried out by man.
Given the above scenario, a PPP led Government will undertake, at an early stage the development of a comprehensive National population policy for Uganda. The Party is not concerned with the size of the population per se but rather with its high growth rate. Uganda’s population growth rate is around 3.2% which is said to be the 3rd highest growth rate in the world! The Party too disagrees with the present regime’s publicly stated view that a huge population is good for Uganda because it will create an internal market for the country. Unfortunately the President’s view does not take into account the demography of that population. Uganda’s population is composed of a high percentage of young people who are dependants of a few employed adults.
Furthermore, our industrialization is still at infancy and the rate of unemployment is still high.
Our comprehensive National Population policy will therefore be designed to address the following broad issues:-
- Instituting an operational population planning and management programme.
- Tackling issues connected with high fertility rate.
- Identifying and addressing the negative impact the high rate of population growth has on the broader development concerns such as poverty eradication, agriculture, environment, education, housing, urbanization, health including HIV/AIDS and reproductive health.
Public awareness drive will be led by a well facilitated population secretariat.
SOCIAL SERVICES
National Security
National Army
Security at all times for the people and their property is essential for stability and sustainable economic growth and development.
The PPP led government shall be committed to the provision of security against internal and external threats so that Ugandans can pursue their livelihoods in safety. In PPP’s bid to ensure total and sustainable national security, the position and role of the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) as a National Army, sworn in to perform its duties and fulfill its obligation in accordance with the Uganda Constitution, will be focused and moulded to reflect national character.
PPP will always remain steadfast to its Constitutional obligation of creating a pro-people state. Since the military is part of the state, UPDF will be nurtured to always maintain and reflect pro-people values and ideals, and be committed to serve the state and most of all, to serve the people. Our government will ensure that the army is professional in appearance, word, action, and practice and will be facilitated to be efficient, effective and accountable.
Our darling sons and daughters in all the National Security Agencies must be assisted and guided to disentangle their services and loyalty from the ruling Party towards all Ugandans equally and fairly as a paradigm shift from the current protection of the regime as opposed to the state of Uganda and all its citizens irrespective of political affiliation.
National Police Force
The Police are doing their best in keeping law and order in this country, but there are certain issues which tend to mar the outcome of their interventions. Members of the public have been very open and at times quite angry in pointing out such issues. The biggest concerns have included the following:-
Use of excessive force by the police when handling peaceful demonstrations; use of live bullets against unarmed civilians leading to death of innocent persons, beating up civilians by the so called ‘Kibooko Squad”, demanding bribes as a standard procedure in conducting police work, being partial and at times brutal when handling political issues claiming to be obeying orders from above!
The PPP wishes to acknowledge the legitimate complaints by the police as well. The police is poorly housed, poorly paid and poorly facilitated to respond to public calls. The police is militarized and when it is dealing with riots and demonstrations, the public cannot tell who is who.
As a Party, we believe that the militarization of the police force and therefore destruction of their professionalism have contributed to the above shortcomings. Faced with such environment, the Party when in power will act swiftly and very firmly to restore trust, professionalism and confidence in our police force. This will be accomplished through well researched policies.
Good pay, enhanced welfare including accommodation will be progressively addressed. Demilitarization will certainly be undertaken as a matter of priority.
National Prison Services
The concern of the Party with our prison services is the congestion of the prison facilities and the inadequate pay and general welfare of the personnel. Our policies will address these issues progressively. The People’s Progressive party will further enhance and strengthen prison industries so that the sub-sector remains productive and contribute to its welfare. Adequate budgetary allocations will be undertaken to implement the development programmes of the prison industries.
Health
Accessible and Equitable Health Provision
In the provision of health care, PPP believes there is and there should be a health baseline below which no individuals in our country should find themselves. The promotion of health provisions shall aim at securing the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health conducive to living a life of dignity and a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing, not just the absence of disease.
Health as a right is of central importance because the enjoyment of various other rights is contingent upon the extent to which it is itself secured. One’s well being is important and is closely tied to one’s dignity as a human being. Ill-health creates dependency, destroys the ability to create and pursue livelihoods, lowers education achievement and severely constraints opportunities. Ill-health is both a cause and a consequence of poverty.
Health services today in Uganda are in a sad and sorry state. The high population growth is not matched with expected performance. The infrastructure has been neglected and support-services are weak. The lives of the people have been jeopardized leading to avoidable deaths of lives.
PPP laments this sad scenario manifested by less than average standard of public health services across the country and the overall high degree of incompetence by Government to provide and sustain health services. PPP pledges to restore the effectiveness and efficiency required to enable communities access sound health facilities. To achieve this, PPP shall;
- Ensure availability of adequate resources, human and material, to support and sustain delivery of functional health services.
- Guarantee accessibility of those services and facilities to everyone without discrimination.
- Make the provision of health services and the cost of medicines affordable in ways that do not disproportionately burden the poor.
- Incorporate gender issues in the design and implementation of health development programmmes and projects.
- Ensure access to and awareness by the public of health related information say on nutrition, hygiene and sanitation.
- Take measures to strengthen the provision of safe drinking water.
- Regulate inordinate and high population growth which puts pressure on health services, stress on natural resources and the weak health infrastructure. Maintain strong public education and awareness about the consequences of high rate of population growth.
- Initiate and provide adequate incentives to attract and retain our health professionals and technical personnel to avert the endemic brain-drain.
- Involve other stakeholders like CSOs and development partners in the development and maintenance of health services.
In developing our health policies, the Party will undertake a collaborative approach and involve all relevant stakeholders.
HIV/AIDS Epidemic
In the last two decades since its advent, HIV/AIDS has become one of the most dreaded causes of death in Africa, causing fear among people worldwide than most other infectious diseases. With its decimating and devastating effect, HIV/AIDS has changed the history of Africa, and its impact is sadly still being felt today. While Uganda has had impressive strides in the fight against the deadly epidemic, prevalence levels have remained high, actually on the increase across different segments of our population.
HIV/AIDS prevalence rates continue to rise due to inadequate capacity of the implementing institutions; inadequate human and financial resources; insufficient coordination; and limited integration of development partner activities into our national programs.
PPP vows to take a strong stand in HIV/AIDS prevention and care. The PPP shall enact and rigorously implement policies and legislation providing for the regulation of HIV/AIDS related services and information, and ensuring widespread availability of qualitative prevention measures.
PPP shall promote avenues and strategies for access to safe, effective and affordable drugs and care for HIV/AIDS patients as a fundamental element for realizing the right to health. PPP shall:
- Develop, implement and facilitate a national strategy for mobilization and efficient utilization of resources for HIV/AIDS.
- Strengthen existing partnerships with a view to realizing expanded response to HIV/AIDS prevention and care among the various stakeholders.
- Effectively promote intensive research on HIV/AIDS especially with regard to prevention and vaccine development; maintain multi-sectoral HIV/AIDS information management system, and facilitate information dissemination.
- Develop an effective and efficient mechanism for monitoring trends of the epidemic; as well as the impact of HIV/AIDS intervention nationwide.
Education
Education must be viewed as an investment into a collective future rather than simply as individual consumption for personal success. Education provides people with means to understand and participate effectively in various aspects of life; it is important in securing full human personality, other human rights and dignity.
Education is also a foundation for self reliance and carrier for the values that contribute to individual and collective wellbeing as it helps us understand and tolerate and/or respect the difference in others. Acquiring education imbues one with capability to access opportunities and choices previously unavailable to them.
Illiteracy and inadequate or total lack of education are some of the key dimensions of poverty that lead to other consequences such as reduced earnings, social exclusion and inadequate participation in public affairs which easily reduce the capabilities of individuals and groups from exploiting their potentials to the full. Life expectancy rises with increase in literacy levels.
In recognition of its importance, our government will undertake to promote genuine free and quality education and eradication of ignorance as a priority issue. To achieve this noble obligation, PPP will undertake the following;
- Compulsory and free genuine quality primary education for all school-aged.
- Progressive introduction of free, quality and accessible secondary education and vocational training for all.
- Make education accessible, acceptable and affordable to all. For acceptability, schools shall be equipped with trained teachers, who receive domestically competitive salaries and good quality materials that respect cultural differences and the dignity of the child. By adaptability, education will be made relevant and flexible enough to adapt to the changing needs of society and also equip children with special needs
- Minimum educational standards to which all educational institutions will conform shall be established and maintain a transparent and effective system to monitor such standards.
To promote national service and equip citizens with on-job experience, PPP shall promote and support, placement of fresh graduates on apprenticeship in government and private sector departments for a defined period, not less than six months, where they will be required to work, acquire experience and contribute to the development of the country. A commensurate allowance shall be paid to enable them meet their basic needs.
Sports
Sports play a very important role in shaping up the physical and mental capacity especially in young men, women and children. Together with nutrition, sports stimulate good and sound health in the body. It is a very useful means of creating social integration and national unity. Outside the country, sportsmen and women play a prominent role as ambassadors of peace and love. This area of national life has persistently been left lagging behind and many of the ageing stars left to die in a very miserable state of life. The PPP Government will give sports a deserving priority and provide for optimal performance by sportsmen and women.
Science, Technology and Research
Science and technology are the means by which human beings turn adversity into opportunity, for, when properly applied, overcomes the most common barriers to development. Modernity today embraces widespread application of science and technology in development. Research also supports the advancement of technology, education and development.
The PPP Government will give prominence to personnel and institutions involved in research undertakings and extend to them encouragement and resources. National development shall itself be intensive research-based to cater for concrete people’s needs, interests and aspirations. Emphasis will be put on appropriate technology without compromising the local innovations.
Tertiary and vocational institutions will be integrated in the overall framework of education, social and economic development. PPP will maintain close links and collaboration with Civil Society Organizations (CSO), private sector and development partners in this endeavour.
Youth and Unemployment
The majority of our population are young people, and a significant proportion of them have attained tertiary education but remain unemployed. Young people are full of energy and enthusiasm which this government has failed to tap for development purposes.
The People’s Progressive Party views this issue of youth affairs as fundamental for our future wellbeing and prosperity. The quality of our tomorrow’s citizenry will depend on how well we prepare our young people of today to meet the anticipated challenges of tomorrow.
We shall proceed as follows in addressing youth affairs:-
- Development of a youth National policy.
- Creation of a Youth Development Commission whose objectives and functions will be a subject of an Act of parliament.
- Training of young people including school dropouts in industrial and other vocational skills.
- Placement of young people in voluntary work to gain necessary experience in their professional callings and other placings in society.
- Assisting young people to form groups, co-operatives, companies, and associations in order to develop and execute bankable projects.
- Identify and assist urban and rural community financial institutions to finance youth projects through affordable interest rates.
- Develop a comprehensive National Programme of Action to train and nurture the youth for leadership positions in all aspects of our social and political life.
Labour and Social Development
The population of Uganda being predominantly youth, has a large surplus labour force whose potential is yet to be tapped. For a country to benefit maximally from its labour force there should be a programme for strategic skills and vocational training of that force. In addition, the population constituting the labour force needs to be properly organized and guided. In this way, our labour force can contribute effectively to our development efforts particularly in industrialization and agricultural production.
The policies of the PPP will be designed to address the following concerns:-
Payment of a minimum wage negotiated with industry and employers.
Proper use being made of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in promoting best practices for our labour force. Export of labour which is currently being carried out in a half-hazard manner will be properly regulated to benefit both the individuals concerned and the country as a whole. A PPP led government will ensure that the basic human rights of Ugandans who export their labour abroad are protected and respected.
A PPP led government will institute a well conceived study into our national social security system with a view to overhauling its management and investment of the workers’ savings. The Party believes in a liberalized pension’s scheme so that workers have a choice where to invest their savings.
The Party will encourage the formation of labour unions for various segments of workers but the Party will sensitize such workers’ organizations to be disciplined and promote the culture of negotiations to settle industrial disputes, and protection of workers’ rights.
The Labour department will be strengthened and well facilitated to implement our programmes.
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
Women
The present regime has gone a long way in recognizing the need for affirmative action for women. However, PPP believes that most of the actions have been cosmetic and rhetoric focusing mathematical considerations of women member’s in relation to men. PPP will create and maintain a culture and environment in which genuine affirmative opportunities are accorded to women in all economic, social and political spheres. Special emphasis shall be placed on the need for the affirmative opportunities to transcend the elite class of women in order to reach the ordinary woman in rural areas.
People with Disabilities
PPP shall ensure that the constitutional policy directive in relation to affirmative action for people with disabilities is implemented with genuine concern for this community of our society. It will be imperative for PPP to include appropriate consideration for people with disabilities in all laws governing social, economic and political spheres of our society.
The elderly
PPP regrets that to date no effort has been focused on the plight of the elderly in our society. We shall correct this anomaly by putting in place schemes like a provident fund through which the state will take care of the elderly to ensure they live a decent life.
NATIONAL ECONOMY
Over view
To address the problem of poverty that has robbed Ugandans of their dignity, PPP will make a distinction between poverty (material poverty) and impoverishment (deprivation). Poverty means not having, while Impoverishment means having but being deprived of what one possesses or being prevented from using it. PPP is sadly mindful that Uganda is not poor, but impoverished by self-seeking leaders and government structures that have reneged on their mandate to serve the people.
Due to bad and self-seeking governments, impoverishment has not only persisted but has eroded the life and dignity of Ugandans who continue to live in deprivation amidst plenty of unevenly distributed resources. This kind of poverty is characterized by deprivation, not only of material goods and possessions, spiritual, moral, intellectual, cultural, or sociological order, but also of rights, hopes, ambitions, history and identity. This constitutes a cardinal problem of Uganda and Africa as a whole.
PPP has the oversight, courage, boldness and audacity to have a holistic approach to understand and solve the problems of poverty. Uganda’s poverty is not due to lack of resources but unfair distribution. To liberate Uganda from poverty, PPP’s suggested approach is to address a combination of internal and external interventions.
To achieve sustainable development, PPP shall;
- Provide adequate resources for increasing Agricultural Productivity to attain a “Green Revolution” to avert the food crisis and reduce poverty.
- Establish development programmes and self-help projects, by targeting especially the minority and other vulnerable groups.
- Promote participatory approach in poverty reduction.
- Conduct intensive and demand-driven capacity building and empowerment.
- Effect economic and social service initiatives at national and local levels.
- Establish strategies and viable mechanisms for protection of the existing resources and interest of future generations, the environment constituting the cornerstone.
- “Start where you are, with whatever you have” will be our loud siren to every Ugandan.
Land
Land as a natural resource is critical to the economy of our country. However, PPP feels that the present government is handling land matters carelessly without due diligence and foresight on long-term effect of what is being done now. Interests and rights of all stakeholders must be equitably taken account of in the process of streamlining land use and the government must not be seen to witch-hunt any category of land owners or any particular cultural system of landholding, as it appears to be now. It is for this reason that PPP in principle finds the new amendment Land Act recently promulgated by Parliament under undue pressure and influence by the executive gravely wanting. The Act was promulgated by political expediency amidst stark resistance in Parliament and outside, especially in Buganda Region, and relevant professional bodies.
Undoubtedly, there are some serious land ownership and use related issues requiring addressing but PPP thinks that a more objective approach to streamline land affairs should be adopted. A national land use policy should precede the enactment of any new land legislation. The Land Fund already provided for in the 1998 Land Act is central in mitigating the adverse effects of the landlord/tenant relationship in many areas of the country.
PPP will develop a comprehensive national land policy through an elaborate consultative procedure involving all manner of stake holders. It’s that policy which will constitute a basis for enacting a new land law to address all the above mentioned short comings.
Agriculture
The People's Progressive Party notes with great concern that agricultural productivity still falls far short of the potential of the country. Uganda enjoys favorable weather conditions with good soils and adequate rains in most parts of the country. We still grow most of our crops without use of fertilizers, and we boast of a large body of professionals and trained personnel in the sector and indeed a fair amount of research has been carried out over decades with positive results.
But despite all these favorable conditions, Uganda sadly still registers significant food shortages, famine, hunger and malnutrition which in some cases lead to death. The question being asked is: What is the problem and what are the challenges with agriculture in Uganda? Why can't we feed our selves? The party tries to address those concerns through this policy write-up.
In the party, our approach and focus is re-thinking agriculture. We shall start by developing appropriate policies arrived at after elaborate consultations with the main stake holders. Thus the consultations will involve farmers themselves, environmental agencies, land and water professionals, and agricultural experts. The party will then design agricultural policies covering all sub sectors including the beef industry, the dairy industry, crops, fisheries, small stock enterprises such as rearing of goats, sheep, pigs and poultry.
The policies will be comprehensive and address the following concerns:
- The best ways of assisting the small -scale farmers to maximally increase their productivity.
- Developing financial instruments that are affordable and managed by pro-poor financial institutions which should also be easily accessible by rural farmers.
- Creating conducive climate for private -public investments in agriculture. Ensure adequate capital and appropriate incentives.
- Development and dissemination of appropriate technologies to progressively modernize agriculture and enhance productivity.
- Properly identifying and understanding agriculture risks and designing the best ways of managing and mitigating such risks- for example, pests, floods, droughts and natural disasters.
- Ensuring that climate change becomes a phenomenon we have to live with. Ways must be found to mitigate its effects.
- Introduction of appropriate irrigation schemes in all parts of the country where applicable, such as Karamoja region.
- Developing of marketing infrastructure in which farmers will be professionally assisted to take advantage of regional markets now existing in Sudan, DR Congo and other neighbouring countries.
- Ensuring that farmer training and demonstration centers are strengthened, well equipped and strategically located to serve regional and ecological interests. The centers will serve as vehicles for providing knowledge and skills to farmers and dissemination of research findings to end- users.
- Rethinking extension services to farmers. The current system appears inappropriate and not yielding sustainable outcomes.
Food Security
The absence of focused Agricultural and Industrial policies has had a direct negative impact on the growth and development of our society. The need for genuine modernization of Agriculture and related infrastructure, issues of passable roads, storage facilities, irrigation, inputs and availability of markets constitute major concerns of the majority of our farmers across the country.
In spite of being potential food basket in this region and Africa, a cross-section of Uganda’s populace continue to embarrassingly die of starvation, malnutrition and other avoidable famine-based deaths. In promoting food security for all, PPP will use a rights-based approach by identifying the poorest of the poor, and supporting people’s participation to promote adequate food production. It will empower local communities to participate in decision-making and in holding the state accountable for its obligations. It will empower and facilitate people in taking direct responsibility for themselves, and resort to state assistance only when it is unavoidable.
The overall strategy to overcome the food crisis lies in mobilization of a willing population and rational allocation of resources to bring about a surge for a GREEN REVOLUTION modeled on the needs of a homestead and small scale farmers.
To achieve food security, PPP will;
- Ensure that every individual has access at all times to sufficient and adequate food.
- PPP will promote actions that will enhance people’s ability to provide for themselves and their families. This would include preservation and storage of food items.
- Streamline land ownership and utilization through developing effective national land policy that will ensure optimum utilization for maximum agricultural production.
- Educate the masses and make them aware of negative impacts of degradation of the environment and eco-systems.
Investment, Industrial Development and Infrastructure
Transformation of the economy by industrialization is, understandably, inevitable. However, the country seems to be at crossroads in its approach between the giant investors, predominantly from outside, and the home-grown entrepreneurs at small-scale levels. In the drive to widen employment opportunities, the PPP Government will reach out to promote and ensure survival of local investors, the majority of whom are engaged in small-scale cottage industries. To enhance competitiveness and private sector growth, PPP will develop and support a clear intervention policy that will encompass the interests of both local and foreign investors.
PPP will classify and prioritize investment sectors in line with the country’s needs. Investor confidence will be fostered and sustained through maintaining a consultative relationship with stakeholders like the Uganda Manufacturers Association and small scale industries association for the benefit of the sector.
One cannot talk of investment without prioritizing factors that generate industrial growth. PPP shall plan for sustainable availability of power and other services both in the short and long run and with stakeholders work out a taxation regime policy that will encourage investment growth.
To maximize industrial productivity, increase market access and boost household income, the development of infrastructure especially in form of road networks is inevitable, and will be underscored by PPP’s development policy. PPP shall commit itself to increasing and sustaining investment in road and other communication networks.
The deliberate promotion of the Agriculture and Industrial sectors will have to be sustained by the provisions of infrastructure services that are supportive of regional integration such as roads, power, telecommunication and the equitable use of common water resources.
Industrial relations and labor laws will be harnessed to ensure mutual cooperation, engagement and benefits. Investment will be promoted not only for improved productivity, growth and development, but also against the backdrop of employment creation.
Energy and Mineral resources
Bearing in mind that 95% of Uganda’s population still rely on traditional fuel consumption, transparent policy framework and intensive investment in fuel development and consumption is necessary and long overdue. Increasing electricity consumption per capita, installing and revamping electricity generation capacity, reducing electricity distribution losses and power shortages, and creating potential for increased rural electrification and exports will be ardent policy commitments of PPP.
Further PPP’s focus and commitment will be drawn to competitiveness and transparency in petroleum industry for increased effectiveness and utility mindful of the great oil reserves prevalent in the country. Transparent and pro-people policy directions on cumulative oil wells, energy supply reserves, reduction on the dependence rates on petroleum imports, and increasing the value of mineral exports shall be initiated, promoted and monitored so as to ensure equitable benefits and utility for the people of Uganda.
Oil and Gas Industry
The discovery of Oil and Gas in Uganda has raised a lot of hope among the population. Ugandans hope for improved livelihoods through improved service delivery in health, education and infrastructure from the expected oil revenue. It is expected that appropriate investment shall be directed to agriculture for increased productivity which should lead to significant reduction of poverty levels in the country.
The PPP is greatly concerned by the way Government is handling oil issues. Given the level of corruption and embezzlement obtaining in the leadership of the country to day and the secrecy surrounding the agreements on oil, the population is awash with speculation and suspicion that the oil revenues will be largely stolen by state actors and their collaborators in the private sector. To maximize the benefits of oil for the people of Uganda, the PPP policy will address the following;
- Parliament will be asked to set up an independent Oil and Gas Commission which shall administer all matters of oil and gas under its surveillance.
- Work out a clear and comprehensive policy to cover the Oil and Gas Industry.
- Ensure that Uganda joins the “Extract Industries Transparency Initiative” (EITI).
- Review all the agreements signed so far with a view of renegotiating where necessary to ensure equitable benefits between the country and the oil companies.
- Ensure that a mechanism is in place to creating public awareness on oil and gas resources management and utilization.
- Initiate and foster negotiated Interstate Oil Extraction Policy in the Great Lakes Region to ensure peaceful relations and cooperation in the oil and gas sector industry.
Reducing Domestic and External Debt
The Background to the 2007/2008 Budget put Uganda’s total debt stock amounting to US$4.5 billion at the end of June 2006. The amount was estimated to have dropped to US$1.8 billion at the end of June 2007 with the Highly Indebted Poor Countries’ (HIPC) relief initiative by the rich nations to reduce the poor countries’ debts through the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF). While Uganda was a beneficiary to this scheme, her domestic and external debt burden has remained a serious constraint to national economic growth and development, and the resultant overarching poverty.
PPP is fully aware that Uganda’s unsustainable debt position is partly due to corruption, the country’s low base of export earnings as a result of over-dependence on export of limited low value products and on donor funds to finance government expenditure. Unfortunately, this unsustainable debt situation is part of the central cause of the cycle of economic stagnation and the general poverty that has shamelessly continued to riddle our country.
PPP government will persistently commit itself to reduce and eventually eliminate the debt burden through intensive investment in agricultural processing, genuine value addition and international market access. Use of advanced and sustainable technology will be underscored as an essential factor for increasing Uganda’s competitiveness in international and regional markets.
PPP will put in place and vehemently support a coherent and comprehensive policy for developing indigenous industrial technology. The central focus of the policy will be to overcome Uganda’s gross deficiency in technology development and the lack of adequate indigenous capacity to apply new technology innovations.
Regional Integration and International Relations
With the cardinal aim of widening and deepening co-operation among neighboring, regional and other international states for political, economic, social and technological development and mutual benefit, PPP will pursue and support the East African Community and other regional integration efforts.
Cognizant of the limited technological capacity and financial resources in Africa in general and Uganda in particular, PPP firmly believes that the only hope lies in inter-state cooperation within an atmosphere of mutual respect so as to be able to negotiate as a block on a global platform. It is through regional cooperation and multilateral arrangements that African countries will be able to overcome state limitations in technology, science and innovations.
PPP shall therefore commit itself to always develop and pursue policies and programmes with the purpose of fostering cooperation and peaceful co-existence among different states in political, economical, social and cultural fields, as well as research and technology for mutual benefits. For PPP, regionalism and international cooperation pitched on transparency and mutual respect and benefit is seen as the most crucial strategy to fight foreign dependence and underdevelopment that has besieged the African continent. PPP views regional integration as a viable tool for peace, national development and prosperity.
FOR GOD AND OUR COUNTRY
PEOPLE’S PROGRESSIVE PARTY
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