The Grind – Kamara hosts Hon. Dan Wandera Ogalo
The 1995 Constitution provides a broad framework for the observance of the Rule of Law. In its most basic form, the Rule of Law is the principle that no one is above the law. It is intended to safeguard against arbitrary governance, whether by a totalitarian leader or mob rule. The principle protects society from excesses by the State, its agencies, and individuals that could foster dictatorship or anarchy.
The principle of the Rule of Law, which guarantees equality before the law for all Ugandans, is facing a serious test amid recent reports of abductions, torture, and prolonged detention without trial. These incidents have raised concerns about the country’s democratic future and respect for fundamental rights.
Just this week, former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago was reportedly picked up from his home and taken to an ungazetted detention facility before resurfacing at Kira Division Police Station on Wednesday. He was later arraigned in court on charges of misprision of treason. The Chief of Defence Forces and son of President Yoweri Museveni, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, also used his social media platform, X, to claim responsibility for the abduction. The incident has been widely condemned by civil society organizations and opposition groups as a violation of fundamental human rights.
Speaking on The Grind with Patrick Kamara, seasoned advocate and former MP Hon. Dan Wandera Ogalo said that public officials tasked with protecting the Rule of Law are either too weak to carry out their responsibilities or too fearful to ensure that citizens’ rights are upheld.
He noted that, to prevent the current situation from deteriorating further and driving the nation toward anarchy, institutions established under the Constitution must exercise their powers and fulfil their obligations in ensuring a just and fair society where impunity is not tolerated. He added that if these institutions continue to fall short, calls for a national dialogue should be heeded in order to identify the root causes of the country’s challenges, understand why Uganda appears to be losing its way, and determine how the existing gaps can be addressed.
The Grind – Kamara hosts Hon. Dan Wandera Ogalo
The 1995 Constitution provides a broad framework for the observance of the Rule of Law. In its most basic form, the Rule of Law is the principle that no one is above the law. It is intended to safeguard against arbitrary governance, whether by a totalitarian leader or mob rule. The principle protects society from excesses by the State, its agencies, and individuals that could foster dictatorship or anarchy.
The principle of the Rule of Law, which guarantees equality before the law for all Ugandans, is facing a serious test amid recent reports of abductions, torture, and prolonged detention without trial. These incidents have raised concerns about the country’s democratic future and respect for fundamental rights.
Just this week, former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago was reportedly picked up from his home and taken to an ungazetted detention facility before resurfacing at Kira Division Police Station on Wednesday. He was later arraigned in court on charges of misprision of treason. The Chief of Defence Forces and son of President Yoweri Museveni, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, also used his social media platform, X, to claim responsibility for the abduction. The incident has been widely condemned by civil society organizations and opposition groups as a violation of fundamental human rights.
Speaking on The Grind with Patrick Kamara, seasoned advocate and former MP Hon. Dan Wandera Ogalo said that public officials tasked with protecting the Rule of Law are either too weak to carry out their responsibilities or too fearful to ensure that citizens’ rights are upheld.
He noted that, to prevent the current situation from deteriorating further and driving the nation toward anarchy, institutions established under the Constitution must exercise their powers and fulfil their obligations in ensuring a just and fair society where impunity is not tolerated. He added that if these institutions continue to fall short, calls for a national dialogue should be heeded in order to identify the root causes of the country’s challenges, understand why Uganda appears to be losing its way, and determine how the existing gaps can be addressed.
