By Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda
Nov 3, 2003
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KAMPALA - Three army officers have said they will oppose the third term project lock, stock and barrel. Maj. John Kazoora, Capt. Guma Gumisiriza and Capt. Charles Byaruhanga, who are all elected members of Parliament, are the first serving officers to openly reject the third term project. President Yoweri Museveni's second and last term, according to the 1995 Constitution, will end in 2006. He is required to step down in that year. However, the Cabinet has proposed a lifting of the two five-year term limit during the on-going constitutional review process, a move that, theoretically, could allow an incumbent to rule for life. Although Museveni has not announced plans to stay on after 2006, neither has he, political observers point out, shown any indications that he is planning to leave on his constitutional due date. So on Saturday, while addressing Makerere University students hailing from Kashari County in Mbarara district, the three officers showed that some members of the military are ready to oppose the so-called third term project. "Any attempt to manipulate [the Constitution] by anybody must be resisted," said Guma, who is the MP for Ibanda North and a Sandhurst trained officer. He said that the 1995 Constitution belongs to all Ugandans and therefore has to be respected. Drawing an analogy from the past, the MP said that when Grace Ibingira resisted former President Milton Obote's attempt to manipulate the 1962 Constitution, he arrested him - but he added that this did not end the political problems in the country. Byaruhanga, of Kibaale County, said that some Ugandans want Museveni to stay in power "because he is still good". "Why do you wait until he becomes bad?" he said amid applause from the students who were gathered at the Makerere Business Institute on Sir Apollo Kaggwa Road for their freshers ball. Another MP, Mr Jack Sabiiti of Rukiga, was withering in his criticism of the third term. "For you to think that you are going to be there in that position forever and begin grooming daughters and sons; a Mukiga can't accept that," he thundered. Sabiiti said that Uganda's vision was enshrined in the 1995 Constitution and that all that remains is to find someone to implement it. The MP said it is wrong for Museveni to think that he is the only person with a vision for Uganda. "Some people want to mess up this country because of a personal vision, we shall not allow that," Sabiiti said. He urged the students not to allow a "personal vision" to become national one. Kazoora, the MP for Kashari, spoke about the biting poverty in the countryside and said those talking about a vision should put their money where their mouths are. "People talking about the vision must address that [poverty]," he said. He said that after his final exam, he headed for Luwero to join Museveni - but he said that people are now blaming him "for bringing the Movement". The MPs also told the students to avoid HIV/Aids and to read hard. The director of the Institute, Mr Nathan Twesigye, who also hails from Kashari, urged the students to unite. |
� 2003 The Monitor Publications
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