Uganda Constitution - Creating Politics With Principles

1. Empowerment:** Understanding the constitution empowers individuals. It provides a clear understanding of our rights and responsibilities, allowing us to actively participate in civic life, make informed decisions, and engage in meaningful discourse.

2. Protecting Rights:** The constitution serves as a safeguard for our fundamental rights and freedoms. By understanding its provisions, we are better equipped to protect ourselves and our communities from potential abuses of power.

3. Informed Citizenship:** An informed citizenry is the backbone of a healthy democracy. Knowledge of the constitution enhances our ability to make sound judgments about political issues, policies, and the actions of our elected representatives.

4. Legal Literacy:** Understanding the constitution contributes to legal literacy. It allows us to navigate legal processes, advocate for our rights, and ensures fair treatment under the law.

5. Civic Engagement:** A deep understanding of the constitution encourages active civic engagement. Whether it's voting, participating in community initiatives, or peacefully protesting, an informed citizenry strengthens the democratic fabric of our nation.

6. Responsibility and Accountability:** The constitution defines the structure of our government and the limits of its power. When citizens understand these principles, they can hold public officials accountable for their actions, promoting transparency and ethical governance.

7. Unity in Diversity:** Uganda's diverse population can find a common ground in the constitution. Understanding its principles fosters unity by promoting a shared understanding of the values that bind us together as a nation.

8. Preventing Misinformation:** Misinformation can lead to confusion and mistrust. By understanding our constitution, we reduce the likelihood of being misled and contribute to a more informed and resilient society.

In light of these reasons, I believe that initiatives, such as the ongoing constitution translation project, play a crucial role in making the constitution more accessible to all Ugandans. If you have any thoughts or would like to discuss this further, feel free to reach out.

[embed title="Uganda Justice for Politics" url="https://spiritualfamily.net/file/view/54393/uganda-justice-for-politics" guid="54393"]

“The advances of true civilization are all born in this inner world of mankind. It is only the inner life that is truly creative.”

If Christianity persists in neglecting its spiritual mission while it continues to busy itself with social and material problems, the spiritual renaissance must await the coming of these new teachers of Jesus' religion who will be exclusively devoted to the spiritual regeneration of men. And then will these spirit-born souls quickly supply the leadership and inspiration requisite for the social, moral, economic, and political reorganization of the world.

6. LAW, LIBERTY, AND SOVEREIGNTY

134:6.1 If one man craves freedom -- liberty -- he must remember that all other men long for the same freedom. Groups of such liberty-loving mortals cannot live together in peace without becoming subservient to such laws, rules, and regulations as will grant each person the same degree of freedom while at the same time safeguarding an equal degree of freedom for all of his fellow mortals. If one man is to be absolutely free, then another must become an absolute slave. And the relative nature of freedom is true socially, economically, and politically. Freedom is the gift of civilization made possible by the enforcement of LAW.

Political Sovereignty and True Representative Government

Political Sovereignty and True Representative Government

Political Sovereignty and True Representative Government

The measure of the advance of society is directly determined by the degree to which public opinion can control personal behavior and state regulation through nonviolent expression. The really civilized government had arrived when public opinion was clothed with the powers of personal franchise. Popular elections may not always decide things rightly, but they represent the right way even to do a wrong thing. Evolution does not at once produce superlative perfection but rather comparative and advancing practical adjustment.

Uganda Constitution Translation Project

INDEX PAGE

There are ten steps, or stages, to the evolution of a practical and efficient form of representative government, and these are:

1. Freedom of the person. Slavery, serfdom, and all forms of human bondage must disappear.

2. Freedom of the mind. Unless a free people are educated -- taught to think intelligently and plan wisely -- freedom usually does more harm than good.

3. The reign of law. Liberty can be enjoyed only when the will and whims of human rulers are replaced by legislative enactments in accordance with accepted fundamental law.

4. Freedom of speech. Representative government is unthinkable without freedom of all forms of expression for human aspirations and opinions.

5. Security of property. No government can long endure if it fails to provide for the right to enjoy personal property in some form. Man craves the right to use, control, bestow, sell, lease, and bequeath his personal property.

6. The right of petition. Representative government assumes the right of citizens to be heard. The privilege of petition is inherent in free citizenship.

7. The right to rule. It is not enough to be heard; the power of petition must progress to the actual management of the government.

8. Universal suffrage. Representative government presupposes an intelligent, efficient, and universal electorate. The character of such a government will ever be determined by the character and caliber of those who compose it. As civilization progresses, suffrage, while remaining universal for both sexes, will be effectively modified, regrouped, and otherwise differentiated.

9. Control of public servants. No civil government will be serviceable and effective unless the citizenry possess and use wise techniques of guiding and controlling officeholders and public servants.

10. Intelligent and trained representation. The survival of democracy is dependent on successful representative government; and that is conditioned upon the practice of electing to public offices only those individuals who are technically trained, intellectually competent, socially loyal, and morally fit. Only by such provisions can government of the people, by the people, and for the people be preserved.

Translation Links

Arrangement of Objectives.
Objective
General.
I. Implementation of objectives.
Political objectives.

II. Democratic principles.
III. National unity and stability.
IV. National sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.

Protection and promotion of fundamental and other human rights and freedoms.

V. Fundamental and other human rights and freedoms.
VI. Gender balance and fair representation of marginalised groups.
VII. Protection of the aged.
VIII. Provision of adequate resources for organs of Government.
IX. The right to development.
X. Role of the people in development.
XI. Role of the State in development.
XII. Balanced and equitable development.
XIII. Protection of natural resources.

Social and economic objectives.

XIV. General social and economic objectives.
XV. Recognition of the role of women in society.
XVI. Recognition of the dignity of persons with disabilities.
XVII. Recreation and sports.
XVIII. Educational objectives.
XIX. Protection of the family.
XX. Medical services.
XXI. Clean and safe water.
XXII. Food security and nutrition.
XXIII. Natural disasters.

Cultural objectives.

XXIV. Cultural objectives.
XXV. Preservation of public property and heritage.

Accountability.

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XXVI. Accountability.

The environment.

XXVII. The environment.

Foreign policy objectives.

XXVIII. Foreign policy objectives.
Duties of a citizen.
XXIX. Duties of a citizen.

Schedules

First Schedule Kampala and Districts of Uganda.

Second Schedule The boundary of Uganda.

Third Schedule Uganda’s indigenous communities as at 1st

February, 1926.

Fourth Schedule Oaths.

Fifth Schedule Regional Governments

Sixth Schedule Functions and services for which Government is responsible.

Seventh Schedule Unconditional grant to local governments.

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CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA.

Arrangement of Articles.

Article

CHAPTER ONE—THE CONSTITUTION.

1. Sovereignty of the people.

2. Supremacy of the Constitution.

3. Defence of the Constitution.

4. Promotion of public awareness of the Constitution.

CHAPTER TWO—THE REPUBLIC.

5. The Republic of Uganda.

6. Official language.

7. Nonadoption of State religion.

8. National symbols and seals.

8A. National interests.

CHAPTER THREE—CITIZENSHIP.

9. Citizens of Uganda.

10. Citizenship by birth.

11. Foundlings and adopted children.

12. Citizenship by registration.

13. Citizenship by naturalisation.

14. Loss of citizenship by registration.

15. Dual citizenship.

16. National Citizenship and Immigration Board.

17. Duties of a citizen.

18. Registration of births, marriages and deaths.

19. Citizenship of a parent dying before the birth of a person.

CHAPTER FOUR—PROTECTION AND PROMOTION OF FUNDAMENTAL AND OTHER HUMAN

RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS.

General.

20. Fundamental and other human rights and freedoms.

21. Equality and freedom from discrimination.

22. Protection of right to life.

23. Protection of personal liberty.

24. Respect for human dignity and protection from inhuman treatment.

25. Protection from slavery, servitude and forced labour.

26. Protection from deprivation of property.

27. Right to privacy of person, home and other property.

28. Right to a fair hearing.

29. Protection of freedom of conscience, expression, movement, religion, assembly and association.

30. Right to education.

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31. Rights of the family.

32. Affirmative action in favour of marginalised groups.

33. Rights of women.

34. Rights of children.

35. Rights of persons with disabilities.

36. Protection of rights of minorities.

37. Right to culture and similar rights.

38. Civic rights and activities.

39. Right to a clean and healthy environment.

40. Economic rights.

41. Right of access to information.

42. Right to just and fair treatment in administrative decisions.

43. General limitation on fundamental and other human rights and freedoms.

44. Prohibition of derogation from particular human rights and freedoms.

45. Human rights and freedoms additional to other rights.

Human rights and freedoms during a state of emergency.

46. Effect of laws enacted for a state of emergency.

47. Detention under emergency laws.

48. Review by the Uganda Human Rights Commission.

49. Report to Parliament.

Enforcement of rights and freedoms by courts.

50. Enforcement of rights and freedoms by courts.

Uganda Human Rights Commission.

51. Uganda Human Rights Commission.

52. Functions of the Human Rights Commission.

53. Powers of the commission.

54. Independence of the commission.

55. Expenses of the commission.

56. Removal of commissioners.

57. Staff of the commission.

58. Parliament to make laws regarding functions of the commission.

CHAPTER FIVE—REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE.

Right to vote.

59. Right to vote.

Electoral Commission.

60. Electoral Commission.

61. Functions of the Electoral Commission.

62. Independence of the commission.

63. Constituencies.

64. Appeals from decisions of the commission.

65. Staff of the commission.

66. Expenses of the commission.

67. Organisation of elections.

68. Voting at elections and referenda.

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Political systems.

69. Political systems.

70. Movement political system.

71. Multiparty political system.

72. Right to form political organisations.

73. Regulations of political organisations.

74. Change of political systems by referenda or elections.

75. Prohibition of one-party State.

General.

76. Parliament to enact laws on elections.

CHAPTER SIX—THE LEGISLATURE.

Establishment, composition and functions of Parliament.

77. Parliament of Uganda.

78. Composition of Parliament.

79. Functions of Parliament.

80. Qualifications and disqualifications of members of Parliament.

81. Election of members of Parliament.

82. Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Parliament.

82A. Leader of the opposition.

83. Tenure of office of members of Parliament.

84. Right of recall.

85. Emoluments of members of Parliament.

86. Determination of questions of membership.

87. Clerk to Parliament and other staff of Parliament.

87A. Parliamentary Commission.

Procedure of Parliament.

88. Quorum of Parliament.

89. Voting in Parliament.

90. Committees of Parliament.

91. Exercise of legislative powers.

92. Restriction on retrospective legislation.

93. Restriction on financial matters.

94. Rules of procedure in Parliament.

95. Sessions of Parliament.

96. Dissolution of Parliament.

General.

97. Parliamentary immunities and privileges.

CHAPTER SEVEN—THE EXECUTIVE.

The President.

98. President of Uganda.

99. Executive authority of Uganda.

100. Notification of the absence of the President from Uganda.

101. Presidential addresses.

102. Qualifications of the President.

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103. Election of the President.

104. Challenging a presidential election.

105. Tenure of office of the President.

106. Terms and conditions of service of the President.

107. Removal of the President.

108. Vice President.

108A. Prime Minister.

109. Absence of the President.

110. State of emergency.

The Cabinet.

111. The Cabinet.

112. Meetings of the Cabinet.

113. Cabinet Ministers.

114. Other Ministers.

115. Oath of Minister.

116. Vacation of office of Minister.

117. Responsibility of Ministers.

118. Vote of censure.

119. Attorney General.

119A. Deputy Attorney General.

Director of Public Prosecutions.

120. Director of Public Prosecutions.

Prerogative of mercy.

121. Prerogative of mercy.

International relations.

122. Diplomatic representation.

123. Execution of treaties, conventions and agreements.

Declaration of a state of war.

124. Declaration of a state of war.

National Planning Authority.

125. National Planning Authority.

CHAPTER EIGHT—THE JUDICIARY.

Administration of justice.

126. Exercise of judicial power.

127. Participation of the people in the administration of justice.

128. Independence of the judiciary.

The courts of judicature.

129. The courts of judicature.

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The Supreme Court of Uganda.

130. Supreme Court of Uganda.

131. Composition of the Supreme Court.

132. Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.

133. Administrative functions of the Chief Justice.

The Court of Appeal of Uganda.

134. Court of Appeal of Uganda.

135. Composition of the Court of Appeal.

136. Administrative functions of the Deputy Chief Justice.

The constitutional court.

137. Questions as to the interpretation of the Constitution.

The High Court of Uganda.

138. High Court of Uganda.

139. Jurisdiction of the High Court.

140. Hearing of election cases.

141. Administrative functions of the Principal Judge.

Appointments, qualifications and tenure of office of judicial officers.

142. Appointment of judicial officers.

143. Qualifications for appointment of judicial officers.

144. Tenure of office of judicial officers.

145. Registrars.

Judicial Service Commission.

146. Judicial Service Commission.

147. Functions of the Judicial Service Commission.

148. Appointment of other judicial officers.

149. Judicial oath.

150. Power to make laws relating to the judiciary.

151. Interpretation.

CHAPTER NINE—FINANCE.

General.

152. Taxation.

153. Consolidated Fund.

154. Withdrawal from the Consolidated Fund.

155. Financial year estimates.

156. Appropriation Bill.

157. Contingencies Fund.

158. Offices the remuneration of which is charged on the Consolidated Fund.

159. Power of Government to borrow or lend.

160. Public debt.

Central Bank of Uganda.

161. The central bank.

162. Functions of the bank.

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Auditor General.

163. Auditor General.

164. Accountability.

CHAPTER TEN—THE PUBLIC SERVICE.

Public Service Commission.

165. Public Service Commission.

166. Functions of the Public Service Commission.

Education Service Commission.

167. Education Service Commission.

168. Functions of the Education Service Commission.

Health Service Commission.

169. Health Service Commission.

170. Functions of the Health Service Commission.

General.

171. Establishment of offices.

172. Appointment of public officers.

173. Protection of public officers.

173A. Head of public service.

174. Permanent Secretaries.

175. Interpretation.

CHAPTER ELEVEN—LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

Principles and structures of local government.

176. Local government system.

177. Districts of Uganda.

178. Regional governments.

178A. Grants for districts not forming regional governments.

179. Boundaries of local government units.

180. Local government councils.

181. Elections of local government councils.

182. Revocation of mandate.

183. District chairperson.

184. Speaker of a district council.

185. Removal of a district chairperson and speaker.

186. District executive committee.

187. Vacation of office of member of district executive committee.

188. Chief and deputy chief administrative officer.

189. Functions of the Government and district councils.

Finances of local governments.

190. Planning.

191. Power to levy and appropriate taxes.

192. Collection of taxes by local governments.

193. Grants to local governments.

194. Local Government Finance Commission.

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195. Loans and grants.

196. Accountability.

197. Financial autonomy of urban authorities.

District service commissions.

198. District service commissions.

199. Secondment of staff.

200. Functions of district service commissions.

General.

201. Exercise of administrative functions.

202. Takeover of district administration by the President.

203. Resident district commissioner.

204. Terms and conditions of service.

205. Prohibition of holding political offices concurrently.

206. Parliament to make laws regarding local government.

207. Interpretation.

CHAPTER TWELVE—DEFENCE AND NATIONAL SECURITY.

Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces.

208. Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces.

209. Functions of the defence forces.

210. Parliament to regulate the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces.

Uganda Police Force.

211. Uganda Police Force.

212. Functions of the Uganda Police Force.

213. Command of the Uganda Police Force.

214. Parliament to regulate the Uganda Police Force.

Uganda Prisons Service.

215. Uganda Prisons Service.

216. Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Prisons.

217. Parliament to regulate the Uganda Prisons Service.

Intelligence services.

218. Intelligence services.

National Security Council.

219. National Security Council.

220. Functions of the National Security Council.

General.

221. Security organisations to observe human rights.

222. Parliament to regulate possession and use of firearms and ammunition.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN—INSPECTORATE OF GOVERNMENT.

223. Inspectorate of Government.

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224. Removal of Inspector General and Deputy Inspector General.

225. Functions of inspectorate.

226. Jurisdiction of inspectorate.

227. Independence of inspectorate.

228. Branches of inspectorate.

229. Resources of inspectorate.

230. Special powers of inspectorate.

231. Reports of inspectorate.

232. Powers of Parliament regarding inspectorate.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN—LEADERSHIP CODE OF CONDUCT.

233. Leadership Code of Conduct.

234. Enforcement of code.

235. Disqualification for breach of code.

235A. Leadership Code Tribunal

236. Interpretation.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN—LAND AND ENVIRONMENT.

Land.

237. Land ownership.

Uganda Land Commission.

238. Uganda Land Commission.

239. Functions of the Uganda Land Commission.

District land boards.

240. District land boards.

241. Functions of district land boards.

General.

242. Land use.

243. Land tribunals.

244. Minerals and petroleum.

Environment.

245. Protection and preservation of the environment.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN—INSTITUTION OF TRADITIONAL OR CULTURAL LEADERS.

246. Institution of traditional or cultural leaders.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN—GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS.

247. Administration of estates.

248. Law Reform Commission.

249. Disaster Preparedness and Management Commission.

250. Legal proceedings by or against the Government.

251. Performance of functions of commissions and authorities.

252. Resignations.

253. Reappointments and concurrent appointments.

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254. Pension.

255. Referenda generally.

256. Manner of administering oaths.

257. Interpretation.

258. Ratification of certain Acts relating to the procedure of Parliament.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN—AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION.

259. Amendment of the Constitution.

260. Amendments requiring a referendum.

261. Amendments requiring approval by district councils.

262. Amendments by Parliament.

263. Certificate of compliance.

CHAPTER NINETEEN—TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS.

264. Transitional Government. (Repealed)

265. Particular functions of transitional Government. (Repealed)

266. Existing courts of judicature. (Repealed)

267. Existing offices of judges. (Repealed)

268. Interim membership of Court of Appeal. (Repealed)

269. Existing offices.

270. Regulation of political organisations. (Repealed)

271. Existing political parties or organisations. (Repealed)

272. First elections. (Repealed)

273. Appointment to certain offices. (Repealed)

274. Existing law.

275. Modification of existing law by first President. (Repealed)

276. Enactments not yet in force.

277. Provisions regarding urban authorities. (Repealed)

278. Existing commissions and committees of inquiry. (Repealed except for

commissions and committees of inquiry whose work would still be going on

at the time the repeal takes effect)

279. Oaths deemed to have been taken. (Repealed)

280. Pending matters.

281. Proceedings pending before courts.

282. Prerogative of mercy re cases before Constitution.

283. Devolution of rights and liabilities.

284. Succession to property.

285. Succession to contracts.

286. Revocation of statutory leases to urban authorities. (Repealed)

287. International agreements, treaties and conventions.

288. Repeal of 1967 Constitution and Legal Notice No. 1 of 1986. (Repealed)

289. Term of current Parliament to end with term of the President.

290. Transitional provision relating to Kampala.

291. Five year term of local government councils not to apply to existing councils.

292. Modification of laws.

293. Preservation of rights in respect of existing offices.

294. Existing constituencies.

295. Movement organs continued.

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Schedules

First Schedule Kampala and Districts of Uganda.

Second Schedule The boundary of Uganda.

Third Schedule Uganda’s indigenous communities as at 1st

February, 1926.

Fourth Schedule Oaths.

Fifth Schedule Regional government.

Sixth Schedule Functions and services for which Government is responsible.

Seventh Schedule Unconditional grant to local governments.

Members of Uganda Constitution - Creating Politics With Principles