14 July 2008
document
Kampala — President Yoweri Museveni recently joined over 20 other AU leaders attending the 19th summit of the New Partnership for African Development Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee in which Uganda was reviewed.
The review is part of the Africa Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) process, which is essentially a systematic examination and assessment of a country's general performance by its peers. Below is the speech the President made.
It is with great pleasure that I, on behalf of Uganda, address this 9th Summit of the African Peer Review Mechanism Forum when our country is being peer reviewed. I wish to commend Your Excellency Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of Ethiopia, for your able stewardship of the forum. I take this opportunity, on behalf of my delegation, to extend our sincere gratitude to our host, His Excellency Mohammed Hosni Mubarak, the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Government and the people of Egypt for their warm reception.
Allow me also to congratulate my brothers who will be peer reviewed today, His Excellency Umaru Yar' Adua, the President of Nigeria and His Excellency Blaise Campaore, the President of Burkina Faso, for the successful completion of their APRM process and all comrades who have passed through the peer review.
We strongly believe that this process is good for us to generate creative solutions to African governance challenges, as we strive for the betterment of our Continent, Africa.
I wish to recognise the contribution of the APR Panel of Eminent Persons, especially my eminent friend Prof. Adebayo Adedeji, its chairman, who also headed Uganda's Review, for the guidance which has led to the success of the Uganda APRM process. Uganda appreciates having been allotted the seventh position in the queue of countries being peer reviewed.
Your Excellencies, it is now my honour to share with you the experience and outcome of the African Peer Review Mechanism in Uganda.
Uganda one of the pioneers for review
As you know, Uganda was one of the first countries to accede to the APRM process in 2003. However, the process was delayed by the parliamentary and presidential elections in 2006.
Diversity of the independent commission
A key element of the Uganda APRM process was the establishment of an Independent National Commission consisting of 21 representatives from the Government, civil society, the private sector, academia, members of the political opposition, religious leaders, trade unions, farmers, the youth, women, persons with disabilities (PWD's), Parliament and the legal fraternity. Each group was required to nominate a representative to the Commission, which the Government supported to carry out the Country Self-Assessment.
Apart from the diversity of the Commission, the consultations were made with a diversity of stakeholders representing all regions, districts, local authorities, divisions of the Kampala city, special interest groups, expert and professional groups, the Judiciary, Parliament, security, as well as law and order institutions. This enabled the capturing of varied and candid views from all stakeholders. The major challenge of using this approach is that it generates a lot of diverse and often conflicting views, opinions and interests. In many ways, the Country Review Report and this APR Forum is a continuation of the process of building consensus and agreement.
Your Excellencies, the Uganda Country Review Report highlights the achievements, challenges and Programme of Action. Allow me to comment briefly on each of these.
Major achievements of governance in Uganda
The following were identified as major achievements by the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Government:
-Macro-Economic Reforms and Liberalisation,
-Security and Professionalisation of the Army
-Constitutional reform and democracy
-Decentralisation
-Civil Service Reform,
-Education
-Reduction in the prevalence of HIV/AIDS.
The APR Panel has also identified nine best practices worthy of emulation as follows:
-Prompt handling of election petitions for both presidential and parliamentary elections
-Uganda's Macro-Economic management.
-The budget consultative process
-Setting up of a unit within the Uganda
-Investment Authority to promote and support local investors
-Setting up the Uganda parliamentary budget office
-Free universal primary and secondary education.
-Uganda's handling of the HIV/AIDs pandemic.
-Political leadership in the fight against HIV/AIDs
-The Decentralisation process in Uganda.
I now wish to make some brief comments on the achievements of Uganda:
Macro-economic Reforms and Liberalisation (Item 136 page 83)
As a result of the macro-economic measures and reforms, Uganda has experienced an unprecedented growth rate averaging six percent per annum for almost two decades. Inflation has been kept to single digit figures for over 18 years, while liberalisation has attracted both domestic and foreign investors, thus boosting trade.
This achievement is all the more remarkable because it lifted Uganda from a collapsed economy characterised by negative growth rates since the 1970s. Secondly, we have moved the economy from mere recovery to sustainable growth. Thirdly, at the time that these economic reforms were implemented, they were not popular and required strong, unwavering political will. Consequently, we have reduced Uganda's poverty levels from 56% in 1992/93 to 31% in 2005/06.
However, in computing Uganda's total and GDP per capita, the report seems to have used figures that are out of date. The economy is now $14.28b(Atlas method) and the GDP per capita is $482. The average GDP rate of growth in the last five years has been 8.3% per annum. In-spite of the mistake of delaying the construction of hydro-power dams caused by the wrong advice of the World Bank to our officials, the high oil prices and the crisis in neighbouring Kenya, the GDP rate of growth for 2007/08 was nine percent, after adjusting for inflation.
Security and Professionalisation of the army (Item 137 page 83)
Soon after Independence, holding power in Uganda and control of the State shifted from civilians to the armed forces. The military regime under Idi Amin (1971-1979), constituted of a semi-illiterate and highly indisciplined army that had been recruited on ethnic basis, ultimately, became a major source of insecurity and instability in Uganda.
The challenge in 1986, when the NRM came into power, was to transform the negative characteristics of the inherited army into an instrument of peace and security, as well as a professional body. Strict disciplinary measures were introduced in the army, especially to curb the killing and harassment of civilians. The army currently undergoes a high standard of training and education that is the basis for appointment and promotion. We are proud to note that Ugandan security forces are now of the calibre that is often called upon to undertake UN and AU missions in other countries.
Due to the historical role of our army, Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF), in liberating and reconstituting the failed State of Uganda and, in order for this force to comprehend and appreciate the nature of politics and the need for civilian oversight, the army has been given representation in Parliament. This has ensured good relations between the armed forces and other stakeholders and has enabled them contribute to good governance.
The claim by the Country Review Report that "...observers note that the UPDF has become a critical component of the President's patronage network,"(item137) is incorrect and portrays lack of understanding of army recruitment procedures.
Recruitment into UPDF, Uganda Police and Prisons forces is according to district quotas on the basis of competition - physical, academic as well as passing the appropriate medical tests.
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