By Aggrey Baba
Gen Salim Saleh’s proposed Consociational Democracy Agreement is opening a new pathway for national dialogue, with emerging reactions from political actors highlighting the importance of independent guarantees, broad representation and credible implementation of any eventual settlement.
The working paper, authored by Saleh and his assistant Ogenga (Professor), proposes a comprehensive framework through which government, opposition parties and other sections of Ugandan society can jointly address historical grievances, political exclusion, economic inequalities and longstanding divisions that have undermined national cohesion.
Gen Saleh and Otunnu argue that Uganda’s recurring political tensions cannot be resolved through electoral competition alone, proposing structured cooperation between politicians and institutions to establish a more inclusive political order.
At the centre of the proposal is a National Consociational Council that would coordinate national dialogue and oversee implementation of agreed reforms.
The proposed structure includes an Elite Cooperation Chamber bringing together government and participating political parties, as well as a Grassroots and Multi-Stakeholder Chamber intended to give organized groups, including women, youth, workers, cultural institutions and civil society, a direct voice in national decision-making.
The arrangement seeks to move national reconciliation beyond negotiations among political leaders by giving wider sections of society a role in identifying grievances, negotiating solutions and monitoring implementation.
Saleh argues that previous political cooperation arrangements have repeatedly failed because they concentrated on agreements among political elites without sufficiently addressing the underlying grievances of ordinary people.
The proposal therefore places considerable emphasis on accountability, transparency and independent monitoring, with implementation commitments expected to be documented, publicly accessible and regularly reviewed.
The writers also propose a wider system of governance and accountability extending from the Presidency through regional, district, sub-county and parish structures to villages and individual households, to allow communities to participate in identifying historical injustices, land disputes, service-delivery challenges and other grievances requiring government intervention.
The proposed framework further seeks to address economic exclusion through reforms in education, employment, land ownership and public resource distribution.
Among its recommendations is increasing government spending on education to at least 13.3% in the medium term before progressively raising it to 20% by 2030.
The document also need for women to occupy at least one-third of the proposed Joint Implementation Committee positions, while labour unions and informal-sector representatives would receive formal roles in monitoring the implementation of national economic and political commitments.
On historical reconciliation, the paper examines how colonial boundary-making, ethnic politicisation and successive government policies contributed to citizenship disputes, Marginalization and conflict involving different Ugandan communities.
It particularly examines the historical experiences of the Banyarwanda, arguing that questions of national belonging and citizenship must be addressed through an understanding of the historical circumstances that produced them.
Saleh proposes a structured process involving identification of historical grievances, consultations between political and grassroots stakeholders, formal agreements, resource allocation, independent monitoring and periodic review.
The emphasis on independent monitoring has also emerged in reactions from opposi politicians who have expressed interest in national dialogue but want assurances that commitments made under the proposed arrangement will be honoured.
The People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), led by Acting President Dr Michael Lulume Bayiga, earlier this week, outlined conditions for participating in such a process, including an independently selected convener, a jointly agreed agenda, broad stakeholder representation and an independent guarantor to oversee implementation, instead of Salim Saleh, whom the accuse of being part of the group which they need independence from.
PFF argues that these safeguards would help build confidence among participating political organizations and prevent another political agreement from being concluded without delivering meaningful reforms.
The proposed CDA emerged from discussions involving political party representatives during a retreat organized by Saleh and Otunnu in Jinja on October 15-16, with participating parties subsequently expected to consult their respective memberships on the proposals.
The broader initiative seeks to establish a national settlement capable of addressing Uganda’s historical political divisions while creating a framework for sustained cooperation, reconciliation and inclusive development. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
