DP Wants Odoki Report Salvaged

MEMBERS of the Democratic Party (DP) Nakawa branch have asked the ongoing Constitutional Review Commission to reconsider views that were ignored in the Odoki report, reports Edris Kisambira. The branch chairman, Kenneth Paul Kakande, while appearing before the commission sitting at St. Kizito Primary School in Bugoloobi, said billions of shillings would have been saved for drugs in hospitals, schools and modernisation of agriculture if the people’s views in the Odoki Commission report had been respected. Speaking on behalf of six others, Kakande said, “We want to submit that the review commission considers the Odoki report, it should retrieve people’s original views hitherto ignored, for example on federalism, land and democracy,” Kakande said. He proposed an amendment to allow for the adoption of federalism as was articulated in the Odoki report. He proposed a repeal of article 269, saying it infringes on the human rights and freedoms of Ugandans. “Political parties should be allowed to operate freely and Ugandans should be allowed to join political parties of their choice unconditionally,” he said. He said the Movement, which he called a party, should not be constitutional and that Article 70 (1) should be repealed. “The Movement Secretariat must be scrapped. This is just a headquarter of a political party but much of the public funds are spent on this institution in the name of mobilisation,” he said. On army representation in Parliament, Kakande said the idea defeats the concept of demilitarising politics. “Persons in active service in the army should not engage in any form of politics, considering that such an act calls for complete resignation from the former,” he said. Kakande proposed the establishment of a national security council by an act of parliament to deal with the welfare of the army and that promotions should be on merit. He said the army should be productive and self-sustaining. He proposed an amendment to Article 246 (3) (e) to prevent politicians from interfering in cultural or traditional institutions. He cited the Obugabe of Ankole, saying its existance had been politicaly interfered with. He also proposed holding joint presidential and parliamentary elections. Ends