Translation of our Constitution in local languages must be govt priority

By Vincent Nuwagaba

Posted  Thursday, October 4  2012 at  01:00

In Summary

As we mark 50 years as an independent state, I make a clarion call to the political leaders to prioritise the translation of the Constitution in local languages. The government should also distribute copies of the Constitution to all Local Council leaders...

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Reverend Fr Gaetano Batanyenda’s interview titled “Museveni is hostage of his actions and people around him” published by the Sunday Monitor of September 23, captivated me. The man of God gives prophetic words in his interview which if followed would deliver this country. I find very enthralling, the fact that he decries the failure by the government to translate the Constitution into the different local languages.

Indeed, Fr Gaetano is right when he asks, “Imagine being illiterate and poor, what can you do?” Poverty and illiteracy inevitably have frustration, normlessness, and hopelessness as by-products. Ultimately, poverty and illiteracy beget further poverty and illiteracy just like the Bible says in Galatians 6:7 (What you sow is what you reap). A society whose citizenry is ignorant of its rights cannot demand and assert their rights, including the right to development.

President Museveni has always touted the teaching of the so-called science subjects because they are marketable. Nonetheless, the concentration on sciences at the expense of humanities and social sciences has created docile citizens who cannot hold their leaders to account. Today, civics is no longer taught in primary schools, political education is less emphasised in secondary schools and government institutions such as the Uganda Human Rights Commission which should ordinarily carry out civic education seem to be less enthusiastic about the translation of our Constitution.

As we mark 50 years as an independent state, I make a clarion call to the political leaders to prioritise the translation of the Constitution to local languages. The government should also distribute copies of the Constitution to all Local Council leaders free of charge. And, indeed, like Fr Batanyenda argued, the excuse of no money shouldn’t arise because we have a lot of money squandered in useless ventures. I would appreciate the patriotism hype, if it was aimed at teaching our people about our Constitution and other relevant laws and rights.

It is a shame that though Ugandans participated in the making of the Constitution through their elected delegates, 90 per cent don’t know what the Constitution entails. Our people must be empowered through knowing that the Constitution provides parameters within which our leaders must operate and that if leaders go beyond those parameters, there are sanctions in the Constitution. If our patriotism drive will entail teaching citizens their God given and constitutional rights, I am ready to render my services at no cost. After all, I attained university education on taxpayers’ money.

I commend Fr Batanyenda for acknowledging that religious leaders are compromised with favours from President Museveni which he equates with “kissing Jesus on the other cheek” therefore betraying him by not fighting for his people. As a matter of fact, religious leaders are the salt and the light of the earth (Matthew 5:13-16). The Bible says, “Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father”.

The religious leaders whose deeds shine are those who are guided by the scripture in Luke 4:18; those who know they are annointed to preach good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to the captives and sight to the blind. That’s exactly what Fr Gaetano and some other clerics are doing by condemning corruption, impunity and grave human rights violations. Indeed, Jesus came so that we might have life and have it abundantly. Accordingly, the clerics cannot confine themselves to spiritual aspects and abandon the struggle for justice.

While some people argue that wielding power for so long is synonymous with success, Fr Gaetano says, “You see the definition of success is to have and live a successor, and if you can’t have a successor, then you are not successful”. This candid counsel should be taken seriously.

While I concur with Fr Batanyenda in his interview, I radically disagree with him when he says Museveni shouldn’t be held accountable for mistakes he made while in power. This is tantamount to impunity.

Mr Nuwagaba is a human rights defender.
vnuwagaba@gmail.com