New Political Roadmap Out

Feb 23, 2005

GENERAL elections for the President, MPs and LC5 chiefs take place between February 12 and March 12, 2006, according to a revised Cabinet political roadmap,

GENERAL elections for the President, MPs and LC5 chiefs take place between February 12 and March 12, 2006, according to a revised Cabinet political roadmap, reports Felix Osike.

The referendum on the constitutional changes will be held on July 1, this year.
According to the adjusted programme, nomination of candidates for the presidency, MPs and LC5 chairpersons has been brought forward to December this year.

Janet Mukwaya, the former constitutional affairs minister, last July presented to Parliament the Cabinet’s political roadmap to the new constitutional dispensation in 2006.

But the programme, which the Executive and Parliament were required to implement between then and March 2006, has fallen behind schedule by four months, according to the February 18 letter from the Prime Minister and leader of government business, Prof. Apolo Nsibambi, to Speaker Edward Ssekandi.

Parliament’s business and welfare committee is expected to meet this week to consider the ambitious timetable.

Under the revised roadmap, the Constitution Amendment Bill presented to Parliament on February 15, must be passed by April 28, after a general debate between March 9 and April 7.

The Bill contains entrenched and non-entrenched articles, which have been identified for amendment. Among the controversial proposals is the repeal of Article 105 (2) to scrap presidential term limits. If the amendment is approved, President Yoweri Museveni will be eligible for another term in office. The 1995 Constitution permits only two five-year terms. Museveni’s last ends in 2006.

The legal and parliamentary affairs committee, which is scrutinising the Bill, has been given up to March 5, to complete its work and present a report to the plenary sitting.
A motion by minister Nyombi Thembo seeking to remove the secret ballot voting in
Parliament must be decided by March 4. This will be followed by the amendment of the Political Parties and Organisations Act to completely free parties.

MPs will be sent on recess between April 8 and 27 to allow for the 14 days provided for in the Constitution separating the second and third reading of the Bill. The Bill is expected to be passed on April 28, when the MPs resume sitting.

Between April 30 and June 30, the Electoral Commission is expected to embark on civic education on the referendum on the constitutional amendments and update the voters’ register. Ugandans are expected to approve the Bill in the plebiscite to be held on July 1 and ratification of the Bill by the district councils is on July 2.

Parliament will concurrently handle other urgent business like consideration of the budget, which must be approved by August 31.

The sessional committees will consider the preliminary indicative budget allocations between May 2 and May 14. Considerations of the estimates of the various ministries and the reports of the committees will be between May 17 and 28. The national budget will be presented on June 15 and its consideration will immediately follow and end by August 31.

Thereafter, there will be amendment of other electoral laws. The Electoral Commission will carry out civic education on the general elections and update the voters’ register between September and December.

The revised roadmap was discussed and approved by the Parliamentary Movement caucus, a loose grouping of over 200 Movement leaning MPs whose vote is crucial to the Government in the transition process.

Nsibambi said it was agreed in the caucus that Parliament continues to meet on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10:00am to 7:00pm. Mondays and Fridays will be for other activities of Parliament. MPs will have a one-and-a-half hours lunch break on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
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