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THE RULE OF LAW IN CONTEXT OF RECONCILIATION: The Case of Uganda

By Aloysius Muzzanganda Mugerwa Lugira

On Good Friday, 1977,  Maama Agnes Kyozaire Lugira, together with Fulgencia K. Lugira , Asiimwe Maria Nnampeera Lugira, Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe Lugira, due to defective respect of the Rule of Law,in the then Uganda, by a narrow escape, we succeeded to sneak out of Uganda and took refuge in Nairobi of Kenya, from where in September 1977 we departed from Nairobi for Greater Boston Massachusetts USA, where we currently live as Ugandan Americans.
In Boston, we have lived under the inspiration of two major Mottos:
1. Veritas:  Is the Motto of Harvard University, meaning Truth, of which I was variously being reminded while I taught at the Harvard University Divinity School, where, in 1977, I initiated the formal teaching about the Autochthonal and/or the endemic Religions of Africa.
2. Ever to Excel: Is the motto of the University called Boston College. Here since 1979, I carried out the teaching about autochthonalily inculturated status of religions in Africa, as they exude meaning in the formal characterization, in terms of Africism.
With such positive mindset, it is my intension to have this presentation reflect the consideration of the Rule of Law in terms of Reconciliation, in this case as the case of Uganda.

What is The Rule of Law?
It is the principal that all people and institutions are subject to and accountable to law that is fairly applied and enforced: the principle of government by law.
Uganda is a Nation/State made up of peoples living in a geographic area and defined by both written constitutions and institutional heritages that for the sake of humane coexistence stand binding the people of Uganda together.
Human beings living in the geographical region which today is known as Uganda, happen to have been affected by Colonialism which brought to it the characterization of having been a British Protectorate, which in the year 1908   was proclaimed to be the Pearl of Africa by the late British Prime Minister Winston Church, in his book “My African Journey”. 

Preparations for Uganda’s Constitution for Political Independence was spear-headed by some of the most dedicated Ugandan Pastoral Leaders who enjoyed expertise in Canon Law, one of the oldest world systems relative to the Rule of Law. These among the pioneers regarding the independence establishment of the Rule of Law in Uganda, included participants like the following: The late  Archbishop Dr. Joseph Kiwanuka, Msgr. Kasule and Fr. Dr. Joachim Masagazi. The good legal preparatory work done, with a context of Political Parties in mind, resulted into constitutional arrangements, that were seriously embraced  by the leadership of Attorney Benedict Kiwanuka who most effectively steered Uganda’s political interests to political independence.
Legally unprincipled ways of conducting the running of national affairs followed the removal of Benedict Kiwanuka from national leadership. Dr. Milton Obote who had become the Prime Minister of Uganda could not eat it well with General Idi Amin the then head of the Uganda Armed Forces. Eventually General Idi Amin staged a coup d’etat against Dr. Milton Obote and established himself as President of Uganda. The wounds caused to the Rule of Law in Uganda, since then, have not been totally cured.

The Premise of Violence
The current rulers in Uganda, by mistake have premised their so-called leadership with violence according to Frantz Fanon’s Theory on Violence. The application of that theory in Sub-Saharan Africa, to mention a few, has been behind the Luweero massacres as well as the Rwandan genocide.
With the above observation in mind, the recommendation here, is to suggest to the Intercontinental Science Foundation Inc, to help do some follow-up towards reconciliation relative to avoidance of premises of violence.

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