Rwandans lining up to attend the parliamentary debate on term limits. Photo Credit: The New Times

3.7 million Rwandans on Tuesday chose to remove the two-term presidential limit in a signed petition to parliament supporting a constitutional change. This will allow President Paul Kagame a third term run in 2017. Hundreds of Rwandans turned up at the Parliamentary Building to follow the long-awaited debate on the presidential term limits according to The New Times. 

Mr Kagame who is currently serving his second and last seven-year term in office, has always said it is up to the Rwandan people to decide. He has served as Rwandan President since April 2000 during the transitional period, before winning the country’s first ever democratic election in 2013 and re-election in 2010.

Kagame’s supporters credit him for, among others, leading the struggle to stop the 1994 Genocide and setting the country on a path to sustainable development. Nkusi Juvenal, a member of parliament for the Social Democratic Party (PSD) said “3.7 million Rwandans have spoken, we have no option but to listen to their pleas.”

The president of Rwanda’s main opposition Democratic Green Party, Frank Habineza, stated his disappointment with parliament’s vote on the constitutional amendment. “We are very disappointed today because we don’t see any reason why the parliament rush[ed] into such a discussion because they know very well that the Supreme Court is set to hear our case on the 29^th of July which is just two weeks away,” he said.

Interview with Frank Habineza from Voice of America

The Democratic Green Party had gone to the Supreme Court to ask the court to stop parliament from changing the constitution, and to give a deeper understanding of Article 101 and 193. However, they were still finding a lawyer to represent them.

Third term talks have recently caused violence in neighbouring Burundi while Uganda voted out the two-term limit ten years ago.

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The  group consisted of  FDC party leader Major General Mugisha Muntu , Democratic Party  National chairman Beswale Kezala , Jema President Assuman Basalirwa  ,FDC former president Dr. Kiiza Besigye, Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago , DP Secretary General Mathias Nsubuga, CP’s Ken Lukyamuzi , Betty Nambooze  among others .

Appearing  before  a fully  constituted committee chaired by Kajara  MP Stephen Tashobya,  the  group  said that presidential term limits should be reinstated to end the cycle of  handing power  to another president  through the use of a gun.

The former FDC leader Dr. Kiiza Besigye insisted that the president must serve two terms and leave the seat for others to take on.

The group’s technical person in the   constitutional Amendment and Electoral reforms bill Wandera Ogalo said that the presidential candidates should have running mate to become their vice president when they win so as the vice president has the mandate of the people.

Ogalo insisted that the electoral commission should be independent and appointed by the Judicial Service Commission through application, adding that the chairperson of the commission should hold office for a non-renewable term of eight years. He also pleaded with Members of Parliament sitting on this committee to amend the constitution and make army representatives exit parliament saying that no parliament in the world has army representatives. He said that if army representatives are left in parliament there is risk of turning the professional army into a partisan force.

Ogalo, on behalf of the three opposition political parties, said that the Attorney General and his deputy must be a judge of high court appointed by the president on recommendations of the Judicial Service Commission on a non-renewable term of seven years   .

They asked parliament to reduce the number of Ministers from 70 to 21 and added that ministers should be ex-officials. The Member of Parliament for Butambala county Muwanga Kivumbi proposed that the presidential candidate who could have scored over 5% in the national polls should automatically become a Member of Parliament.

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It is eight years now since Ugandans woke up to the sad news that the former Attorney General, Francis Ayume had died in a motor accident.

On the morning of Tuesday, May 18, 2004, the people of Uganda woke up to the sad news of a grisly accident that had claimed the life of Ayume.

But prior to the accident, the Attorney General had got a ‘headache’ in explaining to the President of Uganda, Gen. Yoweri Museveni the correct constitutional process through which Article 105 (2) of the constitution of Uganda on the two presidential term limits could be lifted to allow Museveni to extend his rule.

Ayume had told Andrew Mwenda of the daily Monitor news paper that it would set a dangerous precedent to amend the Constitution of Uganda using unconstitutional means.

The president reportedly wanted the ruling party in Uganda to mobilize two thirds majority within Parliament to Amend Article 105 (2).

But what is shocking the family of Ayume is that the survivors in his accident have never told Ugandans what actually happened and the vehicle which crushed Ayume was not found! It is suspected that the accident that killed Ayume could have been planned.

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Barya made his remarks during the post election induction seminar for the members of the 9^th parliament in Kampala.

Barya said that the removal of the presidential term limits is dangerous to any country since it exposes the president to abuse of powers.

He says that the only clear way of ensuring accountability through limiting presidential terms. He adds on that term limits will also work in favor of the country since the new talents will also be getting opportunity to take power.

Barya also called upon mps to consider removing army as special interest group from parliament. He says that according to the constitution the army is under the executive arm of government and therefore there is no reason why they should be represented.

Ultimate Media

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Joshua Kitakule

The Secretary General of IRCU, Joshua Kitakule says that for the people to respect the leadership of the government, Presidents should be leaving power before the citizens are tired of them.

The 8^th parliament voted in 2005 to lift the two term limit for President, allowing anyone to rule Uganda for life or as long as one wants, which has in effect seen President Museveni continue to be president now reading for his 4^th elected term.

Kitakule also say that the Electoral Commission should be reorganized to streamline the conduct of elections in Uganda. He says the Electoral Commission was put in place before the country went into political party dispensation therefore the way it conducts elections does not rhyme well with multiparty political system.

He says the constitution should be revised to ensure all political stakeholders are involved in the formation of the Electoral Commission so that people get confidence in elections.

Although the just ended 2011 general elections in Uganda were peaceful, the opposition has refused to accept the results claiming the EC works to favour the ruling party NRM and President Museveni who appoint the Electoral Commission.

Ultimate Media

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