Opposition wants term limits back
May 10, 2010
OPPOSITION leaders have instructed the shadow attorney general, Erias Lukwago, to present a motion to Parliament to reinstate the two-term presidential term limit, w
By Mary Karugaba
and Barbara Among
OPPOSITION leaders have instructed the shadow attorney general, Erias Lukwago, to present a motion to Parliament to reinstate the two-term presidential term limit, which was scrapped in 2005.
Addressing MPs at a closed-door meeting at Parliament yesterday, the opposition leaders reportedly asked Lukwago and the opposition chief whip, Kassiano Wadri, to ask for leave from Parliament and introduce a private members’ Bill on constitutional amendments.
“I know it is an uphill task, because the issue is dear to the Government. But we will move it, debate it and see whether there will be a sense of nationalism in Parliament,†Wadri said.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Wadri said the opposition also wants the restructuring of the Electoral Commission and exclusion of the army from elections.
Wadri slammed army representatives in Parliament.
“They have now become political, which is indirect contravention of the Constitution. They sit on Government side and vote for the Government. They should either be thrown out or restrained,†he said.
During the meeting chaired by JEEMA president Kibirige Mayanja, the MPs briefed party leaders on the electoral laws.
FDC president Kizza Besigye, the new chairperson of the Inter-PartyCo-operation, Ken Lukyamuzi (CP) and Emmanuel Tumusiime (Forum for Integrity in Leadership) attended.
MPs Mike Ocula, John Arumadri and Christopher Kibazanga were also present.
Four bills; Presidential and Parliamentary Amendment, Electoral Commission, Political Parties and Other Organisation and the National Youth Council, were passed last week.
Three other Bills; Local Government, Women Council and Regional Tier, are still being scrutinised by the legal affairs committee.
Opposition leaders were delighted that some of their recommendations such as gazzeting the polling stations, involvement of the parties’ agents, the display of presidential results at the polling station and the follow up of the results by each candidate were addressed in the Bills.
If the opposition’s private Members Bill sails through Parliament, it would mean that President Yoweri Museveni can only serve one more term.
The proposed Bill is, however, already threatened by Article 93 of the Constitution, which states that any Bill that has financial implication on the consolidated fund must have the blessing of Cabinet.
“Our hands will further be tied by article 93, which means that the Bill must have the blessing of the Government, which, I know, they will deny us but we shall still go head,†Wadri, also acting leader of opposition in Parliament, said.
Gathering the two-thirds majority needed to pass a Bill is another task that the opposition would have to contend with.
There are only 39 opposition MPs out of the 313 MPs in the House.
and Barbara Among
OPPOSITION leaders have instructed the shadow attorney general, Erias Lukwago, to present a motion to Parliament to reinstate the two-term presidential term limit, which was scrapped in 2005.
Addressing MPs at a closed-door meeting at Parliament yesterday, the opposition leaders reportedly asked Lukwago and the opposition chief whip, Kassiano Wadri, to ask for leave from Parliament and introduce a private members’ Bill on constitutional amendments.
“I know it is an uphill task, because the issue is dear to the Government. But we will move it, debate it and see whether there will be a sense of nationalism in Parliament,†Wadri said.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Wadri said the opposition also wants the restructuring of the Electoral Commission and exclusion of the army from elections.
Wadri slammed army representatives in Parliament.
“They have now become political, which is indirect contravention of the Constitution. They sit on Government side and vote for the Government. They should either be thrown out or restrained,†he said.
During the meeting chaired by JEEMA president Kibirige Mayanja, the MPs briefed party leaders on the electoral laws.
FDC president Kizza Besigye, the new chairperson of the Inter-PartyCo-operation, Ken Lukyamuzi (CP) and Emmanuel Tumusiime (Forum for Integrity in Leadership) attended.
MPs Mike Ocula, John Arumadri and Christopher Kibazanga were also present.
Four bills; Presidential and Parliamentary Amendment, Electoral Commission, Political Parties and Other Organisation and the National Youth Council, were passed last week.
Three other Bills; Local Government, Women Council and Regional Tier, are still being scrutinised by the legal affairs committee.
Opposition leaders were delighted that some of their recommendations such as gazzeting the polling stations, involvement of the parties’ agents, the display of presidential results at the polling station and the follow up of the results by each candidate were addressed in the Bills.
If the opposition’s private Members Bill sails through Parliament, it would mean that President Yoweri Museveni can only serve one more term.
The proposed Bill is, however, already threatened by Article 93 of the Constitution, which states that any Bill that has financial implication on the consolidated fund must have the blessing of Cabinet.
“Our hands will further be tied by article 93, which means that the Bill must have the blessing of the Government, which, I know, they will deny us but we shall still go head,†Wadri, also acting leader of opposition in Parliament, said.
Gathering the two-thirds majority needed to pass a Bill is another task that the opposition would have to contend with.
There are only 39 opposition MPs out of the 313 MPs in the House.