Third Term: We are fighting an imaginary problem!
Jul 08, 2003
SIR— Several people, including bishops and Members of Parliament (MPs) have been speaking against the third term for President Yoweri Museveni.
SIR— Several people, including bishops and Members of Parliament (MPs) have been speaking against the third term for President Yoweri Museveni.
However, you can only force or stop a third term by following the Constitution. Its amendment is provided for under Articles 258 to 262. It is Article 105(2) which limits a presidential tenure of office to two terms.
Surprisingly, an amendment to this effect can be made simply by an Act of Parliament passed by a two-thirds majority of Members of Parliament at the second and third reading of a Bill for that purpose.
I say ‘surprisingly’ because amendment of Clause One of the same articles which provides for two five-year terms requires the two-thirds majority as well as a referendum. So MPs, religious leaders and others who wish to block any amendment to that particular provision of presidential terms have to lobby Parliament instead of exciting the public.
I believe President Museveni is aware of this provision. He is not the one to decide on the extension of the tenure to more than two presidential terms. He insists he will follow the Constitutution. So let it be.
Any Member of Parliament who wishes to do so can move a motion to that effect. The President cannot stop him. But the MPs can defeat the Bill for an amendment of that clause.
So, for MPs opposed to the extension to say that they are going to mobilise the public against the third term defeats logic or amounts to ignorance of the law.
Peter Kusiika
Kampala
However, you can only force or stop a third term by following the Constitution. Its amendment is provided for under Articles 258 to 262. It is Article 105(2) which limits a presidential tenure of office to two terms.
Surprisingly, an amendment to this effect can be made simply by an Act of Parliament passed by a two-thirds majority of Members of Parliament at the second and third reading of a Bill for that purpose.
I say ‘surprisingly’ because amendment of Clause One of the same articles which provides for two five-year terms requires the two-thirds majority as well as a referendum. So MPs, religious leaders and others who wish to block any amendment to that particular provision of presidential terms have to lobby Parliament instead of exciting the public.
I believe President Museveni is aware of this provision. He is not the one to decide on the extension of the tenure to more than two presidential terms. He insists he will follow the Constitutution. So let it be.
Any Member of Parliament who wishes to do so can move a motion to that effect. The President cannot stop him. But the MPs can defeat the Bill for an amendment of that clause.
So, for MPs opposed to the extension to say that they are going to mobilise the public against the third term defeats logic or amounts to ignorance of the law.
Peter Kusiika
Kampala