Term limits agitators have no point - Govt

By Conan Businge 

Government will listen to the proponents for the restoration of the two 5-year presidential term limits, Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi has said.

“It is not the first time this issue is coming up. But we will listen to them. There is a properly laid down provision to handle this issue in the Constitution.  I don’t think that the agitators of the restoration of term limits have genuine points to give this time round,” the Premier said.

He was addressing a news conference at NRM headquarters in Kampala ahead of the party forthcoming National Executive Council meeting set for next Tuesday.

Mbabazi was flanked by the minister of information and national guidance Mary Karoro Okurut and party's deputy spokesperson Ofwono Opondo.

A group of MPs from both the ruling NRM and the opposition are drafting a motion to reintroduce term limits which were scrapped during the constitutional amendment process in 2005.

Youth MP for Western Uganda, Gerald Karuhanga is spearing heading the campaign.

“Uganda is the only country within the East African Community without the presidential term limits in our constitution.

Restoring presidential term limits would contribute to creating a common standard on presidential term limits and hence accelerate the process of regional integration,” Karuhanga said.

Article 105(2) of the 1995 Constitution had provided for the presidential term limits, but they were removed by Parliament in 2005. He said citizens across the country were calling on Parliament to restore them.    
   
He contended that the term limits had been enshrined in the Constitution “as one of the building blocks for stability and predictability in the governance of the country.”

“Even as we celebrate 50 years of independence this year, Uganda has never had a peaceful transfer of presidential power and authority.” He said that blood was shed and lives and limbs were lost when President Frederick Muteesa was deposed in exile in 1966, when Idi Amin was toppled in 1979, when Milton Obote was toppled in 1971 and in 1985.

He asked Parliament to grant him leave to introduce a private members Bill for an Act entitled the constitutional Amendment (Restoration of Presidential term limits) Bill, 2012. He said he would move the motion when it is put on the Order paper.

Cerinah Nebanda (NRM) said, “The only way we can stablise this country and bring peace is to bring back term limits.” She said the opposition had resorted to “walk to work” because they are seeing no hope of NRM leaving power.

Cecilia Ogwal (FDC) urged Uganda, which is a founding father of Organisation of African Unity that transformed into the African Union to sign the charter on elections, democracy and good governance which AU initiated.

Betty Aol Acan (FDC) said, “If we want patriotism we must support this motion in good faith.”

Simon Peter Aleper (NRM) Moroto Municipality said; “Restoration of term limits would help us set a precedent for former presidents. We shall be able to consult someone who has left power peaceful”.

Abdul Katuntu FDC shadow attorney general (Bugweri County) said; “This is not a monarchy where you rule until you die. We are saying lets have term limits where one can govern for 10 years and handover peaceful to another person.”

Other MPs who talked included Gilbert Olanya and Sam Otada both independents; Dennis Hamson Obua and Henry Musasizi both of NRM, Brenda Nabukenya (DP). Otada explained that the Bill has no financial implications.