Don’t intimidate us â€" NPC
Jun 23, 2005
THE National Political Commissar, Dr. Crispus Kiyonga, has called on opposition MPs to stop intimidating the government and the public that there would be chaos if the presidential term limits are lifted.
By Milton Olupot and Henry Mukasa
THE National Political Commissar, Dr. Crispus Kiyonga, has called on opposition MPs to stop intimidating the government and the public that there would be chaos if the presidential term limits are lifted.
“There are some of us here who are beginning to circulate threats that in case we pass this amendment there will be chaos. This is not acceptable. They will be brought to order. It is the responsibility if this House to bring them to order,†he said.
Kiyonga, while debating the Constitutional amendment Bill No. 3 on Wednesday, said the Movement was full of presidential materials, but all could not be president at the same time.
Responding to submissions by opposition MPs that there were many Ugandans who could ably replace President Yoweri Museveni, Kiyonga said, “I agree that there are many people who could become president, but we cannot all be presidents at the same time. Let us give the population the opportunity to judge by opening up term limits.â€
He added, “Some of our colleagues both in and outside this House are concentrating on one thing; removal of term limits but we should be concerned about sustained stability. We should look for a channel for sustaining stability.â€
Kiyonga said the constitution had provided for such things as creation of a position of Leader of Government business and the creation of a consultative forum. He said he was disappointed about the rejection of a proposal for cooperate governance, by the legal and parliamentary affairs committee.
Energy state minister Michael Werikhe said residents of Bunghoko county were in support of lifting of term limits. He said his constituents also support dual citizenship and transferring the appointment of chief administrative officers to the Government.
Syda Bbumba, the energy minister, in support of the lifting of term limits, disagreed with the notion that it would breed dictatorship.
“Dictatorship does not arise from the length of the terms. Obote (former president Milton) became dictator in his first three years as president, Amin (former president Idi) became dictator in his first month in office,†she said.
Bbumba said most of the MPs opposed to the lifting of term limits had been in Parliament for too long and she had never heard them talking about term limits for MPs.
Local government minister Tarsis Kabwegyere said dictators are bred by the society they live in.
“Under this government, we have entrenched democracy, weakening the routes of dictatorship,†he said, adding that the Constituent Assembly (CA) insisted on term limits because of fear due to the past experience.
“Those of us who were in the CA were very vehement, we had not seen a president who could lead Uganda as we have been led,†Kabwegyere said.
He added, “Society is yearning for leadership that recognises its interests and this is the leadership we want to prevail. This is the reason we now seek to open up term limits after the experience. Democracy is about a government in which people participate.â€
Peter Esele (Bukedea) said society was dynamic and that there was need for change of systems of leadership as well.
“At the time the constitution was written the prevailing situation warranted term limits, there is no problem removing them now. Those opposed to the amendment are tagging it on one individual. constitutions are not made for individuals but for the nation,†Esele said.
Omodi Okot (Kole) said it was the responsibility of Parliament to avoid a situation of bloodshed. “Term limits are an opportunity for Ugandans to share leadership. It gives people an opportunity to tolerate a bad leader since they know that his or her term would expire,†he said.
Prof. Morris Ogenga Latigo (Agago) and Latif Ssebagala (Kawempe North) said they were not convinced on why the term limits should be lifted. Ssebagala said term limits should be introduced even for Parliament and the local leaders/
Rogers Matte (Ntoroko), Sam Anyolo (Soroti county) and Charles Koluo (Serere) supported the lifting of term limits.
Koluo said term limits would encourage corruption because leaders would want to amass wealth before their terms expired.
Anyolo said the movement was in the labour room and needed the hand of the opposition to be able to deliver the transition.
THE National Political Commissar, Dr. Crispus Kiyonga, has called on opposition MPs to stop intimidating the government and the public that there would be chaos if the presidential term limits are lifted.
“There are some of us here who are beginning to circulate threats that in case we pass this amendment there will be chaos. This is not acceptable. They will be brought to order. It is the responsibility if this House to bring them to order,†he said.
Kiyonga, while debating the Constitutional amendment Bill No. 3 on Wednesday, said the Movement was full of presidential materials, but all could not be president at the same time.
Responding to submissions by opposition MPs that there were many Ugandans who could ably replace President Yoweri Museveni, Kiyonga said, “I agree that there are many people who could become president, but we cannot all be presidents at the same time. Let us give the population the opportunity to judge by opening up term limits.â€
He added, “Some of our colleagues both in and outside this House are concentrating on one thing; removal of term limits but we should be concerned about sustained stability. We should look for a channel for sustaining stability.â€
Kiyonga said the constitution had provided for such things as creation of a position of Leader of Government business and the creation of a consultative forum. He said he was disappointed about the rejection of a proposal for cooperate governance, by the legal and parliamentary affairs committee.
Energy state minister Michael Werikhe said residents of Bunghoko county were in support of lifting of term limits. He said his constituents also support dual citizenship and transferring the appointment of chief administrative officers to the Government.
Syda Bbumba, the energy minister, in support of the lifting of term limits, disagreed with the notion that it would breed dictatorship.
“Dictatorship does not arise from the length of the terms. Obote (former president Milton) became dictator in his first three years as president, Amin (former president Idi) became dictator in his first month in office,†she said.
Bbumba said most of the MPs opposed to the lifting of term limits had been in Parliament for too long and she had never heard them talking about term limits for MPs.
Local government minister Tarsis Kabwegyere said dictators are bred by the society they live in.
“Under this government, we have entrenched democracy, weakening the routes of dictatorship,†he said, adding that the Constituent Assembly (CA) insisted on term limits because of fear due to the past experience.
“Those of us who were in the CA were very vehement, we had not seen a president who could lead Uganda as we have been led,†Kabwegyere said.
He added, “Society is yearning for leadership that recognises its interests and this is the leadership we want to prevail. This is the reason we now seek to open up term limits after the experience. Democracy is about a government in which people participate.â€
Peter Esele (Bukedea) said society was dynamic and that there was need for change of systems of leadership as well.
“At the time the constitution was written the prevailing situation warranted term limits, there is no problem removing them now. Those opposed to the amendment are tagging it on one individual. constitutions are not made for individuals but for the nation,†Esele said.
Omodi Okot (Kole) said it was the responsibility of Parliament to avoid a situation of bloodshed. “Term limits are an opportunity for Ugandans to share leadership. It gives people an opportunity to tolerate a bad leader since they know that his or her term would expire,†he said.
Prof. Morris Ogenga Latigo (Agago) and Latif Ssebagala (Kawempe North) said they were not convinced on why the term limits should be lifted. Ssebagala said term limits should be introduced even for Parliament and the local leaders/
Rogers Matte (Ntoroko), Sam Anyolo (Soroti county) and Charles Koluo (Serere) supported the lifting of term limits.
Koluo said term limits would encourage corruption because leaders would want to amass wealth before their terms expired.
Anyolo said the movement was in the labour room and needed the hand of the opposition to be able to deliver the transition.