Civic and political rights of the Batwa ethnic minority in local governance at village level: The case of Kanungu District

Abstract

Since the 1970s, the Batwa ethnic minority group has been considered as a less superior group of human beings. They were forcefully evicted from the forest around Echuya Forest Reserve in Kisoro and Kabale districts of South-Western Uganda. The Batwa in Uganda are one of the most defenceless (vulnerable), marginalised, voiceless (powerless) and endangered ethnic minority group in the districts they live in. In turn, their civic and political rights (the right to vote and the right to be voted) in local council (LC) elections have been ignored partly because of poor sensitisation to and awareness of the Batwa people by all stakeholders. The purpose of this study was to investigate the civic and political rights of the Batwa people in Uganda. The key questions to be addressed include: 1. Is the Batwa ethnic minority group aware of the right to vote in Local Council 1 elections in the communities?2. Is the Batwa ethnic minority group aware of the right to be voted for in Local Council 1 elections in their communities?