{UAH} Museveni should not leave power, says Tanga Odoi
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1:34 AM |
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IN SUMMARY
Museveni has built a legacy especially in the military. I am not so sure if after him, that military can be governed and controlled like he has done. And, if you go to the gist of our problems, the military has been central," says Tanga Odoi, NRM electoral commission chairperson
Kampala.
The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM ) electoral commission chairperson Tanga Odoi has said President Museveni should not leave State House because 'politics is not about handing over power'.
Mr Museveni, he added, is NRM's surest way of retaining power.
"I am not ready to lose my job as Chairman, NRM electoral commission – because I have no other job. So why should he [President Museveni]) lose his? [If he is to lose it] let him lose it through the ballot paper,"
Mr Odoi said.
Mr Odoi made the remarks on Thursday while appearing before the House Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, which is seeking different people's views on the Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 13 of 2017.
During the proceeding, Kumi Municipality Member of Parliament (MP), Monicah Amoding, asked Mr Odoi, whom the committee had summoned to give his views on the bill, if he thought Uganda would come to a standstill if Mr Museveni exited the stage.
Kasilo County MP, Elijah Okupa, said just because Mr Museveni is the NRM's surest bet to retain power does not call for changing the 'rules of the game' (the Constitution).
Mr Okupa said Uganda needs to prepare a successor to take over from Mr Museveni because, inevitably, he will have to leave power at some stage.
Presently, the Constitution bars anyone below 35 or 75 years of age from running for presidency. Mr Museveni is currently 73.
By 2021, when Uganda will have its next general election, he will be 76, thus ineligible.
It is widely suspected that it is in this context that Igara West Member of Parliament, Raphael Magyezi, sought to craft a Private Member's Bill to amend Article 102 (b) of the Constitution to expunge the 75 years old cap on presidential candidates.
After Parliament in late September granted Mr Magyezi leave of the House to draft the bill, the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, later adjourned the House to allow MPs to consult their constituents on the pros and cons of lifting the age cap.
However, Mr Odoi said the issue should not have been subjected to consulting the masses because it has divided the country.
"It was not necessary for this issue to be taken back to divide the population. This issue can be solved by Parliament and the government handles the consequences," Mr Odoi said.
Mr Odoi also said Uganda should not be compared with Zimbabwe where the military on Wednesday deposed Robert Mugabe from power after he fired the Vice President.
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