Order Needed in Public Policing of Election Process
Uganda – The recent national conference on conflict during elections has once again put the focus squarely on the actions of police at polling time. The Police state that they have a plan of action to ensure that there is no violence in 2011, and are training officers in public order management. Yet doubts over not only the police ability to handle the election process, but simply to monitor and allow peaceful demonstrations and meetings remain.
There have been extensive efforts at police reform in Uganda over the previous twenty years. The process is ongoing, and the opening of a centre to allow the public to air their views on police reform in Kampala this week is a good step towards getting the public fully involved. However, even the most recent public incidents shows that much more needs to be done if the elections of 2011 are not to be marred by the same violence and disputes of the past. Policing elections, in particular, involves not only polling day but the entire election process in the lead-up to the vote. This means public meetings and rallies, as well as quite possibly protests. In a democracy there may well be opposition and disagreement. As long as this is peaceful, truly democratic policing will allow this process to occur. As recently as September 2009, the violent way in which police dealt with demonstrations raised questions about their approach to public order policing.
The Police Reform and Accountability Working Group a network of civil society including Human Rights Network Uganda, (HURINET-U), The African Centre for Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture Victims (ACTV), The Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI), Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE), The Federecion International De Abogadas (FIDA)-U, Human Rights Concern (HURICO), The African Policing Civilian Oversight Forum (APCOF) and the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) has been actively promoting the development of a holistic approach to public order management that includes clear legislation, a code of conduct, training and capacitating of the police in non violent crowd management, a review system of all police public order management, a process fair and transparent of notification and the promotion of a system of civil society monitors that can assist in the self policing of events and be available as neutral conflict resolution resources in time of need.
The statements of Maj. Gen. Kayihura concerning the establishment of a doctrine on the use of force by police are encouraging. It is hoped that they demonstrate an intention to truly adhere to the rule of law, and to punish police officers who operate outside lawful limits.
In the lead up to these elections, all sides need to work together to ensure that all citizens can safely and peacefully participate in the election process. Effective, transparent and accountable policing are best achieved with this kind of interaction. With political activity only set to increase, police have a difficult job providing security, and promoting the right of the public to participate in the political process. Constructive interaction between civil society and the police will help balance these demands and build the capacity of the police to manage public events, delivering the peace and safety that Ugandan citizens – and voters – deserve.
Tennille Duffy, Consultant, Access to Justice (East Africa), Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative
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