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?
Highlights
Introduction and backgroundHistorically, every large society contains both ethnic and linguistic minorities (Laurie & Khan 2017)
The article concludes that the Batwa are treated as lesser citizens and have not been able to participate in suffrage as voters or eligible candidates because of a lack of civic knowledge, discrimination in education, health, housing, ownership of land, socio-economic status (SES) and employment, among others
The marginalisation has been because of, among others, lack of civic knowledge, discrimination in education, health, housing, ownership of land, SES and employment. This has led to marginalisation, suppression, oppression and exploitation that threaten to eradicate the Batwa completely from Uganda (Bamuturaki 2016; Douglas & Jaap De Visser 2015; United Organisation for Batwa Development in Uganda (UOBDU) 2004)
Summary
Every large society contains both ethnic and linguistic minorities (Laurie & Khan 2017). An ethnic minority is a group of people that differs from other dominant (majority) groups in terms of race or colour, nationality, religion and cultural origin in the country in which they live. Ethnic minority groups in themselves differ based on custom, language (accent), dress, food preference, lifestyle, socio-political-economic beliefs and customs, among others, that are practised by the members of a particular group (Barzilai 2010). Many minority groups based on religion, race, appearance and culture exist and are recognised, the majority groups of people and other legal instruments tend to dominate over them in the societies in which they live, which normally absorbs them. Very few have managed to self-segregate themselves from the larger society (Laurie & Khan 2017). Feagin (1984) gives at least five features that an ethnic minority group must have: suffering discrimination and subordination; physical and/or cultural traits that set them apart, and which are disapproved by the dominant group; a shared sense of collective identity and common burdens; socially shared rules about who belongs and who does not; and the tendency to marry within the group because of discrimination
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