Kyankwanzi MPs Back Third Term

Feb 02, 2004

Ninety-four Movement Members of Parliament who have been attending a retreat at Kyankwanzi Leadership Institute, have backed the cabinet proposal to lift the two-term limit for a president.

By Felix Osike
Ninety-four Movement Members of Parliament who have been attending a retreat at Kyankwanzi Leadership Institute, have backed the cabinet proposal to lift the two-term limit for a president.

According to the resolutions read to President Yoweri Museveni who closed the six-day retreat on Sunday, the MPs unanimously agreed to amend Article 105 (2) of the Constitution that bars a president from ruling for more than two five-year terms.

The caucus is a loose grouping of about 200 Movement MPs. There are 304 MPs in the 7th Parliament.

It was resolved that the caucus sets up an NRM committee in Parliament to “draw up a programme on managing transition.”

It would also “make recommendations for the mobilisation of the masses to support the opening up of the political space and lifting of the term limits including other recommendations of the national conference, Cabinet and other organs of the Movement,” the resolution said.

It was, however, not clear whether former ethics and integrity minister Miria Matembe and Lwemiyaga MP Theodore Sekikubo, who are opposed to the lifting of the term limits, signed the resolution.

Movement diehard Nyombi Tembo said, “the meeting was very successful. We achieved all the objectives and came back a more cohesive group.”

The Constitutional Review Commission recently said lifting the term limit should be subjected to a national referendum. The final decision to amend the constitution rests with Parliament.

A Movement source said they were sure of a two-third majority support (210 MPs) when the issue comes up for debate in Parliament later this year.

The retreat attracted 117 MPs although 94 were present at the time of closure.
Eighteen ministers attended the retreat, which dealt with various topics including the political transition and the economy.

Oliver Woneka, the caucus secretary general, said the Movement MPs were invited but about 50 asked for permission to sit their examinations at Makerere University.

The MPs examined the manner in which the caucus will conduct business in Parliament. The resolutions were read out by Moses Kizige, the deputy chairman of the Movement Caucus.

The MPs also agreed to review Parliament’s rules of procedure.

On Wednesday, Luweero Triangle minister Prof. Semakula Kiwanuka called for the scrapping of voting by secret ballot in Parliament, saying it was obsolete. He also called for the granting of more powers to a president to dissolve Parliament in case of a stalemate.

Museveni asked the MPs to study a number of Movement documents and come out with a document that articulates the solutions to national development. He asked the MPs to have a conviction and dedication to serve the people who are the supreme authority.

A statement from State House said the president also reminded the MPs that “power belongs to the people and political leaders must subject themselves to the people, whom they must consult.”
Ends

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