The Justice Forum (JEEMA) has called for the introduction of a voluntary, community-based National Civic Defence Programme, positioning it as a constructive alternative to the controversial Sovereignty Bill currently before Parliament.
The proposal, outlined by the party, focuses on training citizens in constitutional literacy, disaster response, cyber security, first aid, and basic defence skills.
JEEMA says the framework is anchored in Article 17(2) of the 1995 Constitution, which provides for military training of able-bodied citizens to help defend national territorial integrity.
“Real sovereignty is not built by policing citizens. It is built by preparing them,” said Dr Swaib Kaggwa Nsereko, JEEMA Party Spokesperson.
Nsereko argued that for more than 30 years, government has failed to operationalise the constitutional provision, leaving citizens untrained while focusing instead on what the party describes as restrictive laws.
“For over 30 years, government has failed to train citizens to defend the Constitution, yet it is quick to introduce punitive laws,” he said.
JEEMA also raised concerns over the Sovereignty Bill, warning that it could undermine civil liberties and potentially affect Ugandans in the diaspora through what it termed heavy penalties.
“If there is fear of external influence, the answer is not to ban money, but to build citizens whose loyalty to constitutional values cannot be bought,” Nsereko added.
The party further proposed that Ugandan embassies be used as hubs for engaging the diaspora in national development, rather than subjecting them to punitive regulatory measures.
It also called for strict parliamentary oversight should any civic defence programme be adopted, to avoid possible abuse.
JEEMA urged Parliament to reject the Sovereignty Bill and instead invest in what it described as “a prepared citizenry, not a policed one.”
