POLITICAL PLURALISM IN UGANDA

That this House congratulates the Government for playing a leading role in supporting development efforts in Uganda, resulting in impressive achievements, particularly in combating the HIV/AIDS epidemic; welcomes the decision by President Museveni to lift the 18-year long restriction on political activities; also welcomes the August 2004 launch of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and the recent election of Dr Kizza Besigye as their national Chairman and prospective presidential candidate in 2006; further welcomes the efforts by FDC to forge a wider coalition of opposition parties; believes that only a united opposition can provide a healthy and vibrant counterbalance; regrets the reported public flogging by Government soldiers of opposition MPs and the ongoing arrests and detention of FDC leaders and supporters; also regrets the reported plans by President Museveni to amend the constitution so that he can rule indefinitely; and now calls on the Government to double its efforts in working bilaterally and with its EU partners to encourage the Ugandan authorities to co-operate with the opposition, and to create a level playing field if the 2006 presidential and parliamentary elections are to be free and fair.