{UAH} MPs, Museveni could get 2 more years

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MPs, Museveni could get 2 more years

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Tuesday, 24 September 2013 22:26

Written by Sadab Kitatta Kaaya

27 Comments

2 more: President Yoweri Museveni addressing MPs

Constitutional overhaul could see leaders extend tenure to 2018

Eighteen years after its promulgation, the 1995 Constitution is set for a second major overhaul.

The Observer has learnt the move could see the tenure of current political leaders extended by at least two years to allow Parliament handle the proposed amendments.

A government official familiar with the plan said cabinet was studying amendments that would soon be made public knowledge.

Interviewed last week, Attorney General Peter Nyombi said: "It is not just about amending the constitution; the majority of the provisions in that constitution need to be reviewed."

The last constitution amendments were carried out in 2005. "What they are planning is something similar to what the Kenyans did," explained Busiro South MP, Joseph Balikuddembe Mutebi.

"They extended their term for about one year and four months to amend their constitution."

At the height of the opposition-led walk-to-work protests in 2011, following elections that year, President Museveni suggested amending the Constitution to insert clauses that would deny bail to riot suspects, among others.

The NRM constituted a team, led by Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi, to study the proposed amendments. It included former Attorney General Khiddu Makubuya, Local Government Minister Adolf Mwesige, deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanyah, and MPs Wilfred Niwagaba (Ndorwa East) and Elizabeth Karungi (Kanungu Woman).

This team sat at least once at Mbabazi's office on Plot 18 Akii Bua road, in Nakasero, but has never presented its report, two years on. NRM deputy Chief Whip David Bahati said last week that he was not aware of plans to amend the constitution.

"No proposal has been discussed in the caucus, but nothing stops the government from making proposals so long as they are reasonable and are in the interest of the public."

President Museveni (L) presented with a copy of the constitution by Chairman of the Constituent Assembly (CA), James Wapakhabulo on October 8, 1995

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THE AMENDMENTS In the run-up to the 2011 elections, government initiated amendments to five legislations, the Political Parties and Organisations Act, Electoral Commission Act, Parliamentary Elections Act, Presidential Elections Act and Local Government Act.

However, many of these laws could not be amended because it would affect the Constitution.

"I think it is inevitable to have the Constitution amended because the Constitutional Amendment Bill 2005 was not concluded, and also the 2009 amendments in electoral laws were never handled because they needed a constitutional amendment," said Stephen Tashobya, chairperson of Parliament's Legal and Parliamentary Affairs committee.

We have learnt that government is also considering the inclusion of electoral reforms proposed by opposition leaders. These include the reintroduction of a two-term presidential limit, but with the term of office being extended from the current five to seven years.

Sources close to the ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs have told us that the process could take off in July 2014, with a two-year extension to the current term to allow parliament handle the amendments.

Such an extension would inevitably court controversy. "We have a fixed mandate [according] to the existing Constitution which we can't violate because we want to amend the Constitution," said Medard Lubega Sseggona, the Busiro East MP.

Besides, added Sseggona, the shadow minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, "an amendment to the Constitution does not require more than a year, we still have more than two years to the end of the current term."

sadabkk@observer.ug

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Ocen Nekyon