{UAH} Pojim/WBK: Museveni, Kenyatta scoff at calls for term limits
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11:15 AM |
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Museveni, Kenyatta scoff at calls for term limits
President Yoweri Museveni has scoffed at calls for the restoration of presidential term limits, terming the demands as a "non-issue".
Speaking at a joint press conference with Kenya President, Uhuru Kenyatta at State House Entebbe Monday evening, Museveni says Ugandans are not interested in term limits and rejected them in 2005, when the Constitution was amended.
Responding to a question from journalists on whether presidential term limits should be restored in Uganda, he says there is no need for debate on the matter but focus should be on pushing for missions to improve the lives of citizens.
Museveni stresses that being at the helm of the Presidency should not be looked at as a do or die affair.
"People are more interested in building CVs, so that they say; so and so was a former Prime Minister, so and so; was a former President", he said.
"We are not talking about improving people's CVs. We are talking about isuues… like issues of the East African Community, infrastructure development in East Africa - those issues, economic integration. These should be the issues, they should be your concern. But you are not talking about issues but talking about CVs… how people can improve their CVs. We are not part of that, for us we are talking about issues".
In the same vein, President Kenyatta said voting should be determinant of whether a leader is popular or not. He stresses that the power of the ballot should be the determinant on how long a leader can stay in power.
Citing Kenya, Kenyatta says the people voted to have term limits in the Constitution, adding that there is no singular formula that fits.
"What we need to do is to respect the democratic will of the people of that country. I personally don't see any problem and the focus should be on prosperity and stability of the region. Let the people decide on how they should be governed," Kenyatta stressed.
Adding: "We have seen leaders who have been there for a long time voted out, we have also seen leaders who have been voted for a short time also voted out. For clarity to answer the question of popularity, popularity is a question of how you deliver your promises to the people. Mine is. let us focus on the democratic principle - the right for people to choose their leader through the ballot"
Reacting to United States President Barack Obama's remarks on leaders overstaying in power during his state visit in Kenya last month, Museveni says that does not bother him.
"I don't know what Mr Obama meant by being in power for a long time but if am in power for a long time, being elected by the people that shows that am a very popular person, am doing the right thing. And I have no apologies to make to Mr Obama or anybody else", Museveni said.
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