Prof. Ogenga Otunnu Proposes Grassroots Power-Sharing Model for Uganda

Uganda’s ongoing search for political consensus must move past traditional negotiations between government officials and opposition leaders. According to academic and historian Prof. Ogenga Otunnu, the country needs to address deep-seated historical grievances, political exclusion, and the urgent demands for inclusion felt by ordinary citizens.

Speaking during a television discussion, Otunnu advocated for consociational democracy—a framework centered on inclusion, power-sharing, and sustained dialogue. He stressed that persistent public appeals for peace and unity indicate unresolved divisions that require deliberate political intervention. Rather than merely distributing government positions among political elites, his model seeks to build structures that ensure meaningful participation for everyday citizens across households and communities.

Reflecting on Uganda’s political history, Otunnu pointed to past arrangements like the 1962 UPC-KY alliance and the 1979 Moshi Conference. While these historical events provided temporary political stability or broad coalitions, they also exposed limitations, such as the exclusion of specific religious or political groups. He argued that his proposed model goes further by demanding transparency, accountability, and active grassroots involvement.

The proposal has sparked discussions regarding whether meaningful power-sharing can succeed amid ongoing concerns over political freedoms and unequal access to state power. Critics argue that negotiations without prior constitutional reform risk entrenching existing inequalities. However, Otunnu maintains that dialogue and constitutionalism are not mutually exclusive, asserting that continuous consociational practices can actually foster an environment where constitutional principles thrive.

Read the original story on Nile Post.