Cabinet against two-month extension for Museveni
Jun 16, 2005
THE Government has ruled out extending President Yoweri Museveni’s term because such a decision would have to be endorsed by the people in a referendum.
By Hamis Kaheru and Felix Osike
THE Government has ruled out extending President Yoweri Museveni’s term because such a decision would have to be endorsed by the people in a referendum.
The New Vision yesterday reported that some MPs had floated a proposal to extend the President’s term from May to July 2006 to coincide with the expiry Parliament.
Museveni’s term expires on May 12, while Parliament’s expires on July 2, 2006.
Cabinet has proposed to shorten the MPs’ term in order to hold presidential, parliamentary and LC5 elections on the same day in March 2006.
“We have heard of the proposal but we do not accept it,†deputy justice and constitutional affairs minister Adolf Mwesige said on phone.
“If they want to extend the President’s term to July, it means the President will have served five years and two months. To do that, you have to amend Article 105 (1) of the Constitution and this would require a referendum, which we are not prepared to finance. That is why we proposed that their (MPs ) term be cut short,†he said.
Mwesige said Article 93 of the Constitution does not allow MPs to table the proposal because it has financial implications.
Article 93 says Parliament shall not, unless the Bill or motion is introduced on behalf of government, proceed upon a Bill that provides for imposition of a charge on the Consolidated Fund.
Speaking at the weekly government press briefing, information state minister Dr. Nsaba Buturo said Article 105(1) is entrenched, while Article 77 on the term of MPs is not entrenched.
A decision of MPs to amend an entrenched article needs a 2/3 majority of Parliament and approval by the people in a referendum.
“Therefore, shortening of the term of MPs is possible in as far as it is not subject to a referendum but the term of a President can neither be shortened nor extended without a referendum,†Buturo said.
Buturo denounced opposition politicians for saying there would be a coup if Museveni was elected again in 2006 or if presidential term limits were lifted. He said such statements were designed to intimidate the population, discourage foreign investors and tourists and undermine the democratic gains of the country.
Buturo said the Government was trying to anchor Uganda into a culture of democratic change of the government of the day. He said the Government was resolute in empowering and entrusting Ugandans with the responsibility to make decisions about the country.
Buturo dismissed media reports that the Government was harassing opposition politicians, saying the Government decided to open up political space knowing that belonging to different political parties was not a crime.
Ends
THE Government has ruled out extending President Yoweri Museveni’s term because such a decision would have to be endorsed by the people in a referendum.
The New Vision yesterday reported that some MPs had floated a proposal to extend the President’s term from May to July 2006 to coincide with the expiry Parliament.
Museveni’s term expires on May 12, while Parliament’s expires on July 2, 2006.
Cabinet has proposed to shorten the MPs’ term in order to hold presidential, parliamentary and LC5 elections on the same day in March 2006.
“We have heard of the proposal but we do not accept it,†deputy justice and constitutional affairs minister Adolf Mwesige said on phone.
“If they want to extend the President’s term to July, it means the President will have served five years and two months. To do that, you have to amend Article 105 (1) of the Constitution and this would require a referendum, which we are not prepared to finance. That is why we proposed that their (MPs ) term be cut short,†he said.
Mwesige said Article 93 of the Constitution does not allow MPs to table the proposal because it has financial implications.
Article 93 says Parliament shall not, unless the Bill or motion is introduced on behalf of government, proceed upon a Bill that provides for imposition of a charge on the Consolidated Fund.
Speaking at the weekly government press briefing, information state minister Dr. Nsaba Buturo said Article 105(1) is entrenched, while Article 77 on the term of MPs is not entrenched.
A decision of MPs to amend an entrenched article needs a 2/3 majority of Parliament and approval by the people in a referendum.
“Therefore, shortening of the term of MPs is possible in as far as it is not subject to a referendum but the term of a President can neither be shortened nor extended without a referendum,†Buturo said.
Buturo denounced opposition politicians for saying there would be a coup if Museveni was elected again in 2006 or if presidential term limits were lifted. He said such statements were designed to intimidate the population, discourage foreign investors and tourists and undermine the democratic gains of the country.
Buturo said the Government was trying to anchor Uganda into a culture of democratic change of the government of the day. He said the Government was resolute in empowering and entrusting Ugandans with the responsibility to make decisions about the country.
Buturo dismissed media reports that the Government was harassing opposition politicians, saying the Government decided to open up political space knowing that belonging to different political parties was not a crime.
Ends