Jacob Waiswa, Peace and Conflict Graduate Program, Department of Religion and Peace Studies, Makerere-University, Kampala-Uganda
Constitutionalism is the biggest challenge in Uganda, without which attainment of peace remains a dream.
From the Lancaster-drafted constitution concluded in 1962 to today, motivated by greed, the document has undergone a series of amendments, including changing systems of governance and the lifting of term limits; to match it with the contemporary needs, interests, and positions of stakeholders.
As a consequence, delivery of social goods and services became constrained, leading to misery of the majority of the population. The state of affairs amounts to conflict. When war is eminent, government loses control, gets filled with irrational fears, and only worsens the violent situation.
It is only until interventions are made will the population realize and work for peace. Peace is always a central destiny for belligerents regardless of the gravity of the conflict.
The interventions are led by the civil society, mainly international agencies, who work to resurrect citizen desire for socioeconomic and sociopolitical order in transit to viable democratic state.
Constitutionalism is, thus, an important approach for conflict prevention, management, and transformation to achieve sustainable peace, which is possible if the collective ideals of citizens are incorporated to peacefully moderate relations along the path of development.
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