THE US Congressional caucus on Uganda chief, Chris Smith, has backed the removal of presidential term limits, describing it as free democratic practice, reports Henry Mukasa.

Smith, a member of President George Bush’s Republican Party representing New Jersey, made the remarks while chairing a caucus meeting that hosted President Yoweri Museveni on Wednesday at Capitol Hill, Washington DC.
In a statement yesterday, State House quoted Smith as saying he was serving his sixth term in Congress, where he has been for 26 years.

“On the question of ‘No term limits’, I am with you Mr. President. Whenever they have brought it up in Congress, I have opposed it strongly,” Smith said. He said the American Congress had no term limits. Smith is a member of the House of Representatives.

Another member of the caucus, Dave Wadon, said, “All I want is for you to help ensure that someone as good as you eventually succeeds you because you have a good vision for your country.”

Museveni was accompanied to Capitol Hill by ministers Ezra Suruma (for finance), Daudi Migereko (trade), Hope Mwesigye (parliamentary affairs) and MP Sulaiman Madada (Bbale).

Smith said the US was starting a health initiative to promote safe delivery among rural women in developing nations and wanted Uganda to be among the first beneficiaries.

The programme, Smith said, would provide surgical treatment for women who suffer complications during child birth.

The caucus praised Museveni for the social and economic reforms in Uganda, especially the fight against HIV/AIDS.
“We see Uganda as one of the beautiful examples of social policy,” said Congressman Jeff Fortenbury and Republican Neblasca.

They commended Museveni for the ABC (Abstinence, Be Faithful and Condoms) strategy against AIDS and urged him not to abandon some elements in the strategy.

Museveni thanked the caucus for supporting Uganda’s development programmes. He singled out the AGOA that allowed Ugandan products duty-and-quota-free access to the American market.

“The President reiterated that the ABC strategy has worked very well for Uganda and it is wrong to emphasise one element.”