Letter: Uganda's democratic progress

Sir: Richard Dowden's article 'Uganda slips through West's democracy net' (27 March) gives a distorted view of my country. Uganda's short, post-independence life has seen the country write and tear up constitutions, fight civil wars, endure bad leadership, live with an economy declining into ruins and participate in rigged general elections.

Our gains over the past seven years, under a unique style of democracy that has enabled the country to be governed by a broad-based government based on a culture of consensus, should not be ignored.

The country has organised grassroots, countrywide elections and elected an unrigged representative National Resistance Council (NRC) assembly comprising politicians from all parties. Above all, we have conducted a constitution-making process that involves all the people. The people's proposals are contained in the draft constitution due to be debated by a Constituent Assembly, whose members will be directly elected soon. The approved proposals will be adopted as the country's constitution.

We have been able to keep the army out of government while it is represented in the NRC, and we have recognised political parties while discouraging their divisive tendencies. The rehabilitation and restructuring of the economy have been pursued by the government, with support from the donor community, leading to GDP growth of 6 per cent (1989-1990) and 4.1 per cent (1991) per annum. Significant achievements have been registered in all major sectors.

We do not suggest that the present democratic system we are using is perfect, though it is widely accepted that it has contributed to the stability and growth Uganda is enjoying today. That is why a referendum is being suggested for the people of Uganda to decide whether to retain the present democratic system or adopt the Westminster type of multi-party politics. A particular form of democracy considered good for developed nations should not automatically be foisted on developing nations.

We in Uganda believe that the essential rules of democracy should include free and fair regular elections, transparency of governance, observation of human rights, an independent judiciary, freedom of expression, constructive freedom of association and a commitment to reducing corruption and uplifting the general living standard of the population. Uganda can feel proud of its recent achievements in these areas.

Though we still have a long way to go, by comparison to where we were seven years ago and to a number of African countries today, we have every right to feel pleased with our progress. Who knows whether the style of democracy that Uganda is trying to nurture today may not be adopted by many other countries in the fullness of time?

There is no doubt that some donors have come to realise that there is more than one form of government able to keep to the rules of democracy. Uganda happens to be providing one example.

Yours faithfully,

GEORGE B. KIRYA

High Commissioner

Uganda House

London, WC2

16 April