NRM political fraud has persisted to date

And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Jesus was reminding the Jews that they are slaves to sin and the only remedy was to believe and be free. The truth is that Ugandans have been enslaved. Our leaders have used fear, and deception to keep Ugandans captive.
The 1995 Constitution is a well-researched document. It took five years plus to research, develop, debate and promulgate. It is our Bible or the Koran equivalent providing the standard truth regarding leadership, governance and accountability in this country.

The first attack on adulteration of the Constitution came with the registration of NRM one-party outfit as a party in 2005. The 1995 Constitution provided that the people may choose a political system, including the Movement system, under which to be governed.
The Movement political system was defined as broad-based, inclusive and non-partisan.

This is the system Ugandans are presumed to have chosen from 1996 to 2005. The shambolic referendum of 2005 is supposed to have ushered in the multiparty system and, with multiparty, the NRM one-party outfit was supposed to cease. However, this did not happen. Instead, the NRM, which was not a party, was fraudulently registered as a party called NRM-O.

You recall the rallying call during the 2005 referendum was that multiparty would get rid of those who were spoiling the Movement.
Ugandans need to realise that NRM-O is not, after all, a political party. NRM/O is, in fact, a de-facto one-party state outfit designed by its leadership to hold onto power by force of the gun.

The banning of political party activities at grass roots, skipping elections in 1990, exorcising NRM dissenting members, barring access to the masses and sustained campaigns against the Opposition, should inform Ugandans of the reality of this NRM-O.
The second attack on the 1995 Constitution also came in 2005.
The incumbent had run for two constitutional terms and Article 105(2) prohibited such a person to run again.

From the Kyankwanzi NRM caucus meeting, the matter was taken to Parliament. Outright bribery was used to buy the members’ support to erase the above article from the Constitution.
The provisions for amending the Constitution may have been followed, but the fact that bribes were involved, it amounted to a fraud committed by NRM-Oagainst the people of Uganda.

The events behind the current attack on the Constitution have been documented. This time round, brutal force was used to get the age-limit issue tabled in Parliament. Brutal force does not create a right. This is yet another fraud being committed by NRM-O against the people of Uganda.
The reality is that the fraudulent NRM-O is in a live or die mode to maintain its one-party leadership despite growing distaste and opposition.
In spite of State brutality and obstructions, the message by the Opposition to the masses regarding good governance, accountability, good leadership, and performance has reached.

The messages of rigged elections, lack of transparency, poor service delivery and intolerance to divergent views have reached their targets. The result is that people are desperate for change while the regime is resorting to more desperate measures to stay on course.
The NRM-O fraud has not spared the economy. The economics of selling public enterprises has not only dispossessed the State, but has also created the highest level of unemployment the country has ever witnessed.
The leaders are preoccupied with the economics of status quo preservation and self- survival. They are unable to develop and implement policies that would rock the boat.

Given the above background, the dramatic and chaotic events of fist-fighting on September 27, 2017 in Parliament, are not surprising. The brave show by the valiant Opposition MPs, the peoples’ reaction to the Constitution Amendment Bill 2017 and more to come, require our leaders to step back, reflect and return to the truth.
Former president Idi Amin killed our archbishop and declared himself a life president. The country ended up in two consecutive terrible wars.

Mr Turyahikayo is a retired auditor and banker