Omnibus bill withdrawn

Apr 07, 2005

THE Government yesterday formally withdrew the omnibus Constitutional amendment Bill 2005, after a motion moved by state minister for justice Adolph Mwesigye was passed.

By Cyprian Musoke
and Henry Mukasa


THE Government yesterday formally withdrew the omnibus Constitutional amendment Bill 2005, after a motion moved by state minister for justice Adolph Mwesigye was passed.

The Bill will now be split into two separate Bills, one containing amendments that require ratification by Parliament and another requiring ratification by district councils.

Mwesigye said the Government would move a motion calling for a referendum to be conducted by the electoral commission on change of the political system.

A total of 124 MPs voted in favour of the motion for withdrawal, no one voted against, while Makindye East MP Mike Mabikke abstained.

Mwesigye said the Bill was withdrawn after consultations with leaders in government and after listening to various concerns in the interest of cohesion and consensus.

He, however, insisted that the Bill was a legally sound method of amending the constitution and the Government would continue to pursue the case currently before the constitutional court.

MPs, however, attacked Mwesigye, saying he wasted their time in insisting that the initial Bill was okay.

“He (Mwesigye) is the same minister who relentlessly defended the Bill. Had he been commander of an operational field, he would be out on firing squad for misleading us and wasting time,” Ibanda north MP Capt. Guma Gumisiriza said.

Prof. Tarsis Kabwegyere (Igara east) defended the bill, saying said it was natural for some one who has sensed the right thing to change position.

Moses Kizige (Bugabula north) said the new development addressed the MPs’ earlier fears.

Sarah Kiyingi said it was good for the Government to ‘swallow pride’ and apologise for having wasted time.

Kassiano Wadri, James Mwandha, Kiwalabye Musoke, Kibazanga, Charles Byaruhanga, Odonga Otto, wondered whether it would not be proper for the Government to call MPs who had petitioned against the Bill.

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