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Citizens
Communities and Constitutionalism in East
Africa
A
Compendium of Conference Proceedings held at the
International Conference Centre Arusha
- 17-19 July 2000
FOREWORD
Civil society is
the motive force behind sustainable constitutionalism
and good governance. It plays a crucial role in holding
governments accountable and responsive to the needs of
the people. In a democratic society, the state exists to
serve the people and not vice-versa. This is the message
received from the conference on Citizens, Communities
and Constitutionalism, held in Arusha, Tanzania July
17th -19th 2000. It provided a forum at which East
African citizens held serious deliberations on the
subject.
The
people-centred approach to constitutionalism recommended
by the conference participants is in conformity with the
spirit of Pan-East Africanism rekindled by the East
African Community (EAC). Kituo Cha Katiba is therefore
proud to have co-hosted the conference in collaboration
with the EAC. Special tribute goes to H.E. Francis
Muthaura, Secretary General of the EAC, for having
honoured us with his presence as Guest of Honour. We
appreciate the efforts of Mr. Wilbe Kaahwa, Mr. Alot
Magaga and Mr. Bernard Luttashaba , for having actively
participated in the preparation of the conference.
On behalf
of the Executive Board, I wish to extend our special
thanks to The Ford Foundation for the financial support
for this conference. We appreciate the support and
guidance of Prof. Julius Ihonvbere and Dr. Tade Aina, in
helping to conceive this project and nurturing it to
fruition in a spirit of partnership. We acknowledge Dr.
Joseph Gitari’s representation of the Ford Foundation
at the opening ceremony. We thank the Local Organising
Committee, namely: Ms. Maria Nassali, Mr. Evod Manda,
Ms. Carol Gatheca, Ms. Enid Nambuya, Ms. Margaret Kalule,
and Ms. Joan Kayaga, for the successful co-ordination of
the conference. We thank the rapporteurs, Ms Miranda
Johnson and Ms Irene Ovonji-Odida for their commendable
job and the Secretariat for putting this report
together. Finally we thank all the participants for
gracing the conference with their presence and for
enriching the debate.
Kituo
Cha Katiba’s projection is that with concerted and
combined efforts, constitutions can be turned into
living documents that represent a national consensus of
the needs and aspirations of the people. To paraphrase
Prof. Issa Shivji in his powerful entreaty to the
conference participants: "We
cannot surrender the right to all human rights: the
right to think for ourselves and to be human
being."
Hon Lady
Justice Solomy B. Bossa,
Chairperson, Kituo cha
Katiba
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