Civil Society Organisations help shape Government agenda on people-based policies and are always on the battle front engaging government on issues they deem unfair to the populace.
The Uganda Civil Society Platform last week released their end of 2017 report titled Transcending Despair and Restoring Dignity: A 2018 Civil Society New Year Message and gave insight into what they expected to be changed, if 2018 was to be a good year.
The report also pointed out what were the wins in the year, and the challenges that brought down their path of pro-people based agenda.
We applaud Government for a good governance process
In the report, the Civil Society Organisations praised a number of government MDA’s (Ministries, Departments and Agencies) on the good works displayed in the year 2017.
Others that the report praises includes the media for their fundamental role of keeping the public informed and providing formidable platforms for public discourse and engagement.
Others that the Civil Society activists pointed out for a good job well done included Civil Servants who despite the deplorable working conditions, including unfair remunerations and political interference, continued to diligently serve their country.
“In particular, we applaud the medical doctors, who albeit tough working conditions in the sector were very instrumental in curbing a number of epidemics including Marburg and some isolated cases of Ebola. We also recognize the efforts to improve the road networks. A number of major highways are now in good condition and several municipalities and the City of Kampala continue to improve its infrastructure”. Read part of the report
Cited challenges
While the Civil Society Organisations celebrated the names successes, they also reminded the country that this progress made was not enough to offset the challenges that have continued to hamper the country’s development.
“Our internal reflections and discussions among-st civil society leaders across the country reveal that majority of Ugandans are in a state of despair, apathy and frustration — a direct consequence of the economic and political downward spiral that characterized the previous year.” The Civil Society Report partly read.
Key among the challenges they cited included; Brutal attack of MPs, Invasion of Parliament by Security Agents and Amendment of Art. 102: “The invasion of parliament by armed security agents on 27th September 2017, arrest of some Members of Parliament, civil society activists and journalists to facilitate the amendment of Art. 102(b) of the Constitution, set the country on a very uncertain political path. We continue to reiterate our original position that the amendment of Art. 102(b) was a selfish act and not in the interest of the country” The report read
Shrinking Civic Space was also cited as a challenge that characterized the year 2017.”The past one year witnessed some of the most repressive actions of the state. The siege on some civil society organizations, and media agencies, the arrests of some civil society leaders and activists across the country and the unnecessary investigations of another 27 organizations were not only an affront to the freedoms of association and expression but also an expression of the most rudimentary forms of repression. Such actions blemish the sanctity of our aspiration to build a democratic society”
The Civil Society report also laid out the bare struggles that had plagued Uganda’s economy in 2017 and they expressed their uncertainty about the continued addition of more poor people not being helped much by the struggling economy and the outcomes.
“Economy is Struggling to Deliver a Middle Income Status: Since 2010, economic growth has been more unpredictable ranging from a high of 6.8% during the financial year 2010/11 to a low of 3.9% in the financial year 2016/17. This sluggish and uneven growth resulted in Government failing to meet its desired 7.2% annual growth rate which was the target for the National Development Plan I (NDP I) over the five-year period 2010/11 to 2015/16. Growth in FY 2016/17 was only 3.9%, which is lower than the 5% growth that was initially projected. With oscillating growth target of below 4%, the aspiration of reaching a middle-income country by 2020 may not be achieved when close to 50% of the UGX 29.274 trillion annual budget projection for FY 2018/19 is being funded by external financing and largely loans whose absorption rate is languishing below 40%. Government needs to rethink its approaches and come up with innovative measures to redeem the Country’s inclusive growth prospects and achieve a better life for all Ugandans”.
We will support Government and Ugandans.
In a rather touching and positive direction, Civil Society organisations pledged they would support government in delivering their mandate to the people. They wrote;
Against this seemingly insurmountable list of challenges, our actions now remain very critical in determining the future of our country. As leaders, we re-affirm our commitment to work with all Ugandans in pursuit of a life of dignity for all. We will therefore continue to work with all well-meaning individuals and organisations to create an environment in which all hardworking Ugandans can realize their dreams and aspirations.
In this pursuit;
- We will work with and support all existing and organic citizen causes and platforms in order to realize our collective and individual goals as a people.
- We will continue our fight against theft of public resources through various advocacy initiatives and campaigns such as the Black Monday Movement.
- We will promote the culture of collective engagements through working with citizen-led cooperatives and other forms of associational life
- We will revitalize the demand for reforms in the election management system so that when the citizens cast their votes, they are not only counted but also count.
- We intend to continue our work with existing people, their causes and platforms so that every Ugandan child, woman and man has a fair shot at dignity and opportunity.
- We encourage all citizens to breathe life into the fact that we all share this beautiful land – Uganda – by taking part in our public affairs at the socioeconomic and political planes.
- Lastly, we collectively and individually believe that a better Uganda is possible – one in which dignity, opportunity and social justice are not a privilege, but a right for all—by virtue of our common humanity and citizenship. We call upon all Ugandans to work in solidarity to achieve this ultimate desire.
For God and My Country