DEMOCRACY IN UGANDA

That this House notes that the Ugandan main opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye returned from exile in South Africa three years ago on 26 October 2005, and was immediately arrested and charged with rape, terrorism and treason; recalls that he won an impressive 37 per cent. of vote share although he was nominated as a presidential candidate while in prison; notes that the Uganda Supreme Court, the Commonwealth Election Observer Team and the European Union Monitoring Team reported that the presidential elections were conducted outside the law because there was no separation between the ruling party and the state, and because of violence perpetrated by the army against the opposition; also notes that Lieutenant Ramathan Magara, who allegedly shot and killed three of Dr Besigye's supporters at a rally on 15 February 2006, has been set free; regrets that Dr Besigye's treason trial is yet to be finalised; and calls on the Government to use its influence in the Commonwealth and the European Union to ensure not only the expeditious trial of Dr Besigye and Lieutenant Magara, but also the implementation of the recommendations of the European Union and Commonwealth reports on the 2006 elections.