Otafiire Denies 3rd Term
Jan 08, 2004
LIFTING the presidential two- term limit should be decided by Ugandans, water, lands and environment minister Col. Kahinda Otafiire has said, reports <b>Joyce Namutebi</b>
LIFTING the presidential two- term limit should be decided by Ugandans, water, lands and environment minister Col. Kahinda Otafiire has said, reports Joyce Namutebi
He denied talking about the third term during the burial of Bushenyi Woman MP Bernadette Bigirwa on Wednesday.
He also denied saying leaders should come and go. Otafiire told journalists in Kampala that yesterday’s Monitor lead story, ‘Leaders must go— Otafiire’, was the writer, Andrew Mwenda’s speech which he should own and not attribute to him.
He said he was disappointed with what Mwenda wrote. “The only quarrel is that he has attributed his views to me. There is nothing I said has any bearing with what Andrew Mwenda and his friend said,†he said calmly.
Otafiire, who addressed mourners as chairperson of Ankole Parliamentary Group, said his speech neither referred to the third-term issue nor to the political debate because the crowd was mixed.
“At no time did I talk about leaders leaving,†he said. He said the theme of his speech was to pay tribute to NRM for ushering in the politics of tolerance.
“I couldn’t say those irresponsible statements. I’m defending my integrity. I was sensitive of the crowd I was addressing,†he said.
He said he told the gathering that nobody had a monopoly of good ideas and nobody had a monopoly of bad ideas.
Asked if he was denying the report for fear of getting sacked, Otafiire said, “It’s not a question of sacking. I’m not mad to make such a speech at the send-off of my friend.
“If the people of Uganda want to bring him (Museveni) in. If people want to have their president, who is Kahinda to say the people of Uganda can’t have what they want? Let the people decide,†he said.
He said he respected those who opposed the third term because that was their view but also respected those who wanted to change the Constitution. “The exchange of views is a healthy debate,†he said.
He added, “Let us debate the idea. Let us put it to test and I wish the winner good luck.â€
The Monitor quoted Otafiire as saying no one should claim superior intelligence or insight in national politics.
He was also quoted as saying, “No one has a monopoly of wisdom.â€
Otafiire said he told the gathering that 24 years ago, he stood as a parliamentary candidate against Mzee Edward Rurangaranga his uncle.
Three months later, a group of Special Police came to his home to arrest him. “I said I was aware of the impending arrest and I was not arrested,†he said.
He said he commended the late Bernadette and Jack Bigirwa because when he went to fight, the couple used to hide him in their house.
“I said the occasion should teach us to tolerate one another. I said we should look at the past and present and draw lessons to guide us in future,†he said.
“I said we shall all go because death was inevitable but when we really go we should be remembered for the positive contribution we make to society,†Otafiire added.
Ends
He denied talking about the third term during the burial of Bushenyi Woman MP Bernadette Bigirwa on Wednesday.
He also denied saying leaders should come and go. Otafiire told journalists in Kampala that yesterday’s Monitor lead story, ‘Leaders must go— Otafiire’, was the writer, Andrew Mwenda’s speech which he should own and not attribute to him.
He said he was disappointed with what Mwenda wrote. “The only quarrel is that he has attributed his views to me. There is nothing I said has any bearing with what Andrew Mwenda and his friend said,†he said calmly.
Otafiire, who addressed mourners as chairperson of Ankole Parliamentary Group, said his speech neither referred to the third-term issue nor to the political debate because the crowd was mixed.
“At no time did I talk about leaders leaving,†he said. He said the theme of his speech was to pay tribute to NRM for ushering in the politics of tolerance.
“I couldn’t say those irresponsible statements. I’m defending my integrity. I was sensitive of the crowd I was addressing,†he said.
He said he told the gathering that nobody had a monopoly of good ideas and nobody had a monopoly of bad ideas.
Asked if he was denying the report for fear of getting sacked, Otafiire said, “It’s not a question of sacking. I’m not mad to make such a speech at the send-off of my friend.
“If the people of Uganda want to bring him (Museveni) in. If people want to have their president, who is Kahinda to say the people of Uganda can’t have what they want? Let the people decide,†he said.
He said he respected those who opposed the third term because that was their view but also respected those who wanted to change the Constitution. “The exchange of views is a healthy debate,†he said.
He added, “Let us debate the idea. Let us put it to test and I wish the winner good luck.â€
The Monitor quoted Otafiire as saying no one should claim superior intelligence or insight in national politics.
He was also quoted as saying, “No one has a monopoly of wisdom.â€
Otafiire said he told the gathering that 24 years ago, he stood as a parliamentary candidate against Mzee Edward Rurangaranga his uncle.
Three months later, a group of Special Police came to his home to arrest him. “I said I was aware of the impending arrest and I was not arrested,†he said.
He said he commended the late Bernadette and Jack Bigirwa because when he went to fight, the couple used to hide him in their house.
“I said the occasion should teach us to tolerate one another. I said we should look at the past and present and draw lessons to guide us in future,†he said.
“I said we shall all go because death was inevitable but when we really go we should be remembered for the positive contribution we make to society,†Otafiire added.
Ends