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 Where are the “opposition”, human right lawyers and the constitutional experts when you need them most?

 This whole candidate A’ level or equivalent requirement is out- rightly unconstitutional, undemocratic and discriminatory. Pitting the “educated” against the uneducated, the “elite” against “peasants”, “rich” against “poor” the latter being the majority.               

To say or believe that one with O’ or A’ level certificate is better at representing my interests in the parliament is not only patronising but discriminating therefore unlawful. Such a divisive    law shouldn’t be tolerated in a post –colonial Ugandan constitution.

Isn’t ironic that it’s the uneducated masses that vote for the non – county resident “Kampala educated” career politicians to represent them, only to reach Kampala and sell their souls to the highest bidder. Common democracy states that, masses vet the candidates. I don’t care how many A’s or F’s are on your certificate, all I want to know is whether you will fight for our right for more funds, better teachers and text books in the local collapsing school.

Historically certificates weren’t required before you join the LEGCO or the LUKIIKO, and that was during the colonial days. My guess, interpreters were used in parliament to ease the language barrier problem between the Natives and the British.

I am therefore calling upon my Rubaga South MP and all other MPs to drop the academic requirement constitution provision.

Voting is every Ugandan’s right so should standing for parliament or presidency be

Hello Kaos

Thank you for this post.  This is not unique to Uganda.  Politicians never do what they promise when they come looking for your vote.  I think what the Ugandans can do is use the recall democracy process.  If the politician does not deliver, then recall her/him.  This when Ugandans need to learn this process.

This past weekend I was in the company of elected officials in my region in Uganda and I asked them very pointed questions and as usual, they did not answer my questions.  I kept pressing and I got a commitment for them to look into my issue; but I will see if they follow through.  I got their email addresses and I intend to use them.............LOL

Kaos - in agreement to what QS has already commented, your plight is not lost by all means as indeed over emphasis on academia alone for certain posts of representation needs to be redressed and perhaps a compromise worked on.  Academia albeit an advantage in that the structure by which our politics works mirrors that of existing world communities - the mentality of those local to a given locality needs to be weighed up with the one chosen to represent or lead.  The communication and mental perception skills of a would be parliamentary candidature ought to be part of the skills mix as opposed to just focusing on the acquired academics or name dropping.

Many a times you will get frustrated beyond reasoning when faced with a mixture of mentality that signing up to be locked up in a mad house is a welcome relief. 

Whatever your political,academic leaning,the A'LEVEL requirement is challengable in the courts and i would win it hands down.Somewere in the constitution there's a discrimination clause,it leaves me wondering what job the A.general is doing?There are still so many stupid laws in the books and one by one we shall point them out.Thanks for the reponse guys.