Uganda 1995
Uganda constitution drafting started a year after the head of state took power in a rebel struggle, with the northern part of the country still insecure. It developed gradually. The drafters sought to reduce civil conflict and construct institutions that would both bring people together after a period of intense regional and religious strife and bad governance. They did not make specific overtures to the militias engaged in conflict in the north, however.
The executive proposed a set of procedures for drafting, which it submitted to the legislature in the form of several bills. The legislature voted in favor of a bill to create a constitutional commission and a constituent assembly.
The 21-member constitutional commission had an initial two-year mandate, later extended to four. It had responsibility for developing the initial language. It consulted members of the public through a series of local meetings and by other means, including requests for written submissions. Although its members were appointed by the president, it was balanced in terms of region and religion, two lines of division within the country. It included 10 lawyers. It received some support from the ministry of constitutional affairs, which had solicited advice from foreign experts before the process began.
The constitutional commission sent its recommendations to the executive, which forwarded them to the constituent assembly. Of the 284 assembly delegates, 214 were popularly elected on a county basis, on a first-past-the-post system. Of the remaining seats, 39 were reserved for women delegates indirectly elected by the women members of district councils and the balance were reserved for representatives of the trade unions, youth, each political party that had contested the 1980 elections, the army, and 10 presidential nominees. The assembly deliberated about each of the articles in the constitutional commission text and made some significant changes. In its work it drew on its own staff of experts. Final adoption was by a 2/3 vote of those present. The assembly deliberations took 17 months.
Notes: There was a brief boycott by some assembly delegates during the debate of multipartyism. Also of interest: Candidates could not espouse a political party, ethnic, or religious affiliation during the campaign and all candidates had to appear together at campaign stops.