Uganda-Politics

=Politics in Uganda=

The U.K. placed Uganda region under the British East Africa Company (1888) and then controlled it as a protectorate. The final protectorate, Uganda, was formed in 1914. Uganda first became an independent country in 1962, when Edward Muteesa II. Muteesa was the king of Buganda. During this period, the Prime Minister, Milton Obote, started a coup d’etat and appointed himself president. The current president of Uganda is Yoweri Museveni, who is the head of the state and the government. The prime minister is Apollo Nsibambi, who helps Museveni with his decisions. The National Assembly, which is the parliament, has 303 members. Museveni created the non-party "Movement" (1986), where political parties could exist but couldn't campaign. This movement was canceled after 19 years by a multi-party ban (2005). Museveni was elected president after the elections in 2006. Insiders didn't officially condemn the election results, or endorse the process. Museveni claimed to have a fair election process, but months before the official elections in February, there were noted activities of harassment against those who opposed Museveni. Rumered capture of activists, rap, and other criminal actions against Besigye occurred during the Presidential campaigning. The country of Uganda hasn't always been in favor of Museveni. Once after conflict within the government, Museveni fled to Tanzania (1971) when Idi Amin Toppled Milton Obote. Museveni returned in 1980 and continued to rule. When the next elections came along, Museveni was defeated. He claimed that the elections were rigged, and continued to form the National Resistance Army. This army helped him gain power again, which he used to win the next presidential election in 1986.

President Museveni
Currently, the main struggle occurring in Uganda involves the Invisible Children. Young children have been caught up in the Civil war that is going on in Nouthern Uganda. The Civil war is being fought between government and the rebel army, which is headed by Joseph Kony, the head of the Lord's Resistance Army. Joseph Kony has convinced his followers that he is a spirit medium, who wants to lead Uganda through his interpretation of the Acholi religious syncretism and Premillennialism. He believes that the country should be lead by following the Ten Commandments, and should be ruled by Christianity. The Lord's Resistance Army has been known to use mutilation, torture, rape, abduction, and especially murder, as weapons for their cause. Because there aren't as many grown men to supply the army, the rebel army has begun kidnapping young children to use as child soldiers. The boys that are abducted become child soldiers, and the girls are forced to become sex slaves. 50,000 Ugandan children are kidnapped each year to be trained as child soldiers. It is a horrifying thought to think that children are being brainwashed to brutally kill. This struggle has lasted more than 18 years and up to 1.5 million people have been displaced because of this conflict.

There are many ethnic groups, such as the Tutsi and Hutu, armed gangs and other government forces, that are fighting over control of the over populated areas in Uganda, as well as the national resources. The government says that they are trying to end the conflict between the groups, but the violence continues, even with the arrival of the UN peacekeeping efforts.

The must see movie, called Invisible Children, is an uncut documentary filmed in Uganda. This movie, filmed by Jason Russell, Bobby Bailey, and Laren Poole, displays the sad and unfortunate lives of Ugandan children. It shows how every night, children must travel to save buildings, where they cram together to sleep and hide from the rebel army. They fear that the army children will come abduct them, then force them to join the rebel army. Over 20,000 children have been assumed kidnapped by the LRA (Lord's Resistance Army.)

Invisible Children
media type="youtube" key="4FOnOFVloiA" This video will help to understand the story of the Invisible Children, who are constantly seeking refugee from their worn torn country.

Bibliography: "Country Profile: Uganda." __BBC NEWS__. 24 Apr. 2007 <[|http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/country_profiles/1069166.stm>.] "Uganda." __Wikipedia__. 18 Apr. 2007 <[|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uganda>.]