Political parties oppose age limit removal

Kampala
Some of the registered political parties that are not represented in parliament are demanding that the Constitutional Amendment Bill (no 2), 2017 be withdrawn and allow Article 102(b) be tested before it is amended.
The party leaders under the National Consultative Forum were appearing before the Africa Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) mission to Uganda at the Emperial Royale hotel in Kampala on Wednesday.

The APRM Mission for Uganda led by Bishop Denis Sengulane from Mozambique is here on a two weeks review of the Country Self-Assessment Report (CSAR) on the political stability, high economic growth, sustainable development and accelerated economic integration.
As part of the review of the second CSAR for Uganda which has already highlighted issues to do with constitutionalism, the mission experts asked the political party leaders to explain how the constitutional amendments have been affecting the country.

Mr Asuman Odaka who represented Justice Forum (JEEMA) told the APRM mission experts that the 1995 constitution has been “violated” in order to protect the interests of the regime.
“The constitution wasn’t made for Ugandans but for one person, President Museveni because every action in government is properly tied around him alone. That is why the two major amendments have been coming when the constitution is about to catch up with him,” said Mr Odoka.

The National Chairman of the Congress Service Volunteers Organization (Cosevo) party Mr Saddam Zacharia Bisase faulted the NRM government for failing to live by its core promises on the rule of law and instead uses numbers in parliament to abuse the constitution.
“The NRM is abusing the constitution through its numbers in parliament. The constitution should not be tempered with before the recommendations of the Supreme Court in regard to law reforms are implemented,” said Mr Bisase.

The leaders of political parties said that to ensure that the constitutionalism in Uganda grows; there should be promotion of periodical national dialogue so that everyone is involved.
Mr Apollo Nyabwongo a member of the National Consultative Forum wondered why a serious matter of amending article 102b of the constitution has been moved by a private member but hurriedly supported by the government through issuing of financial implication certificate within one day of being granted leave of drafting it.

“No one is sure whether the MPs are honest with the way they deliberate for the country. Why is a serious matter brought up by a private member? Let the president retire to avoid chaos that we need to avoid through peaceful transition of power” Mr Nyabwongo said.
Bishop Sengulane told Daily Monitor in an interview after the meeting that he would not comment on political issues because their work is only to review CSARs and compile a final report to be discussed during APRM heads of State Summit in Adis Ababa in January 2018.

“Through our report, the APRM is to help the state create well-being of their nationals. However, the opposition parties should not be seen as against the ruling government because they provide alternative policies,” he said.
Since the start of the APRM that has 36 member states in Africa in 2003, Uganda is the second country to Kenya that has reached the second review which is generated from a Self-Assessment Country Report that is compiled by a team of local experts.

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