Remarks on the UPC´s “Aims & Objectives”

The UPC has ten points on its website titled “Aims & Objectives”¹. This can be seen as a sort of short program. These points are too less to be called a “program of socialism”. From our perspective the question is if these points are suitable to rally the people for the transitional phase from capitalism to socialism.

The Bible says: “Test all things; hold fast what is good.”² So then, let’s check these ten points up.

1. To build the Republic of Uganda as one country with one people, one Parliament and one Government.

This point is stressing the national unity of Uganda under a central government. It is obviously against tribalism by only accepting the Ugandan people to be one. This point suits our goals.

2. To defend the Independence and Sovereignty of Uganda and maintain peace and tranquility, and to preserve the Republican Constitution of Uganda.

It is also in our interests to stand behind the independence and sovereignty of Uganda. We are for Uhuru. “Peace and tranquility” is a bit ambiguous. Does that mean “peace and tranquility” when it comes to class struggle? If so, then it is not for us. The “Republican Constitution of Uganda” of the current constitution was imposed in 1995 by the NRM (Museveni was only formally elected as a president in 1996, after 10 years of no elections). How can we “preserve” a constitution that has no legitimacy from the working people?

3. To organize the Party to enable the people to participate in framing the destiny of our Country.

The Party must be organized as a vanguard to achieve the liberation of the working people from capitalism, to achieve socialism in which they can shape the destiny of the country by themselves.

4. To fight relentlessly against Poverty, Ignorance, Disease, Colonialism, Neo-Colonialism, Imperialism and Apartheid.

This is written into the party goals since the times of Obote. It is totally in the frame of our goals.

5. To plan Uganda’s Economic Development in such a way that the Government, through Parastatal Bodies, the Co-operative Movements, Private Companies, Individuals in Industry, commerce and Agriculture, will effectively contribute to increased production to raise the standard of living in the Country.

This part has a different version in the Constitution of the UPC, which reads the following:

”To plan Uganda’s economic development in such a way that the public sector, private sector, workers, peasants and farmers, through the cooperative movement, commerce and industry will effectively contribute to increased production and wealth thus raising people’s welfare and the standard of living in the country.”

Economic planning will be vital for the socialist economy obviously. But socialism does not allow exploitation of the workers and peasants, the working people. The private sector can only be allowed when it comes to small property owners, like small shop owners, small farms, small craftsmen workshops and therelike. The state enterprises and the cooperatives will be the foundation of the socialist economy. Therefore this point needs some overhaul.

6. To protect without discrimination based on race, color, sex or religion every person lawfully living in Uganda and enable him to enjoy the fundamental rights and freedom of the individual, that is to say:

1. Life, Liberty, Security of person and Protection of the law;
2. Freedom of Conscience, of expression and association;
3. Protection of Privacy of his home, property and from deprivation of property without compensation.

There is nothing to say about this as the formal rights every citizen should have except for point 3. Should the big capitalists get compensated, while their assets were accumulated from the sweat of others only? Definitely not! We can only guarantee personal and small property to be in the hands of individuals, not big companies like factories, banks, insurance companies, mines and therelike.

7. To ensure that no citizen of Uganda will enjoy any special privilege, status or title by virtue of birth, descent or heredity;

That can also be taken over by us. This is especially directed against the restored tribal kingdoms within Uganda. These are feudal remnants that need to be erased and put into the museum once and for all.

8. To ensure that in the enjoyment of the rights and freedoms no person shall be allowed to prejudice the right and freedom of others and the interests of the state;

This can also be supported, but in my view this point is not of such a vital relevance for the moment, because point VI exists already. Maybe instead we could focus here on the liberation of women, about the support of children and care for disabled people?

9. To support organizations, whether international or otherwise, whose aims, objects and aspirations are consistent with those of the Party;

This is very important for us. We could stress the relations to our brother parties abroad and that our struggle for socialism and communism is in the end a mutual effort by the working people around the world. Proletarian internationalist solidarity among the working people of the world is vital for our cause and I hope to be an example of it.

10. To do such other things that are necessary for the achievement of the aims, objects and aspirations of the Party.

This is pretty vague. Maybe we could talk here about the necessity of trade unions and cooperative organizations as well as other potential mass organizations to support the cause of our Party.

I hope that these remarks might give some inspiration in the draft of a future short program of our future Communist Party of Uganda.