On Friday 15th November 2024, the Center for Constitutional Governance (CCG) launched its inaugural Annual High-Level Forum for the Conference on the Constitution.
The event was graced by the German Ambassador to Uganda H.E Mathias Schauer who emphasised the need for protecting democracy.
“In Uganda, there is an ongoing discussion on safeguarding civic space, holding perpertrators of human rights abuses accountable, and strengthening the electoral processes,” he told the participants at the conference.
The Keynote speaker, Prof. PLO Lumumba, who is one of Africa’s pre-eminent scholars and a Pan Africanist, delivered a presentation on Constitutionalism in East Africa, in which he provided a critical analysis on the history and evolution of the Constitution and constitutionalism across the region and beyond.
Citing the foreign nature of the concepts of the Constitution, constitutionalism, democracy, and rule of law and their lack of rootedness in African culture, he attributed the constant turmoil the former has been subjected to throughout history to its foreign import.
“When we talk about term limits, this is what we mean: you are not successful until your successor succeeds,” he said, using the famous quote made by the former President of Tanzania, Julius Nyerere in 1985, as he stood down in favour of his successor H.E Ali Hassan Mwinyi.
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa (4th Right) officially launches CCG’s virtual museum. He is flanked by the German Ambassador to Uganda Mathias Schauer (3rd Right), Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Norbert Mao (2nd Right), Pastor Martin Ssempa (Extreme Right). On his left is Dr Sarah Bireete ( in blue dress), Prof. PLO Lumumba (2nd Left), Dr Miria Matembe, CCG Board Chair Godber Tumushabe, CCG Board Member Fatoumata Toure, and Oskar Semweya the conference co-moderator
He also raised a number of poignant and fundamental questions such as the reconciliation of ethnic identities with the identity of citizenship and how to ensure that governments respect the Constitution.
“I believe that one of the tings that has to happen is that we must increase the political maturity of the masses; it is incumbent upon us to make the masses awake. When the masses are awake, then they make demands,” he added.
The Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa who was the Chief Guest emphasised the importance of restoring term limits as the benchmark for constitutionalism.
“After President Museveni, no leader should rule Uganda for more than two terms. We must work hard to return term limits,” he said.
The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Norbert Mao who was the Guest Speaker raised the fundamental question of the role of the state as a liberator.
“The Constitution is our way of learning to live with each other. So how we relate to each other as the building blocks of Uganda and then how we relate to the State of Uganda. The central question in this law meeting reality is: is the State a liberating force or a repressive force which tramples civil society underneath? Does it liberate the energies of citizens to innovate, to build? Or does it repress?” he asked.
The conference is part of CCG’s effort to contribute to the culture of constitutionalism in the East African Community. The Treaty establishing the East African Community declares among other things, that “The Partner States undertake to abide by the principles of good governance, including adherence to the principles of democracy, the rule of law, social justice and the maintenance of universally accepted standards of human rights.
At the opening of the conference, Dr Sarah Bireete, the Executive Director of CCG, underscored the need for the conference to serve as a platform for dialogue, reflection, and action.
“Let us look closely at the areas where constitutionalism in East Africa has thrived and be honest about where it has faltered; let’s forge alliances between the government, Civil Society, and international partners to support each other in strengthening democratic institutions” she urged.
At the same event, CCG launched the virtual constitutional museum which is the first of its kind in Uganda and the region. The museum showcases the history, evolution, and current state of constitutionalism across Uganda, East Africa and the rest of Africa. It is dedicated to exploring how nations have developed and upheld their constitutions, the struggles for democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, and the distinctive ways in which diverse societies have shaped governance.
As a constitutional watchdog in Uganda and the region, CCG is committed to stimulating debate and growing a community of scholars, practitioners and active citizen engagement on constitutionalism and the rule of law.
The conference was supported by the German Development Cooperation Agency , Giz under its Governance and Civil Society Support Program in Uganda.
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