[Ugnet] Govt wants MPs to remove kings - Monitor - 22/9/2004

[Omar Kezimbira]

Govt wants MPs to remove kings
By Richard Mutumba, Emma Mutaizibwa & Gerald Walulya
Sept 22, 2004 - Monitor

Parliament to unseat cultural leaders MPs to decide on third term Presidential, parliamentary polls on same day Govt accepts regional governments Dual citizenship recommended IGG and Human Rights offices separate PARLIAMENT � The government has recommended that Parliament unseat traditional leaders who violate the Constitution under a proposed new governmental reorganisation. NONE ABOVE THE LAW: Justice Minister Janat Mukwaya leaves Parliament yesterday (Photo by John Nsimbe ). �The President can be impeached, MPs can be recalled and LCs too have their share,� Justice Minister Janat Mukwaya said yesterday while presenting the Cabinet White Paper on the Constitutional Review Commission report yesterday. �The only people above the law are traditional leaders. In the wisdom of government, these people should also be brought under the law.� She added: �The traditional or cultural leader is subject to the Constitution and if he violates the Constitution, he will be removed from office by Parliament.� MPs reacted with shock when Ms Mukwaya made the recommendation. Murmurs and laughter rippled through the chambers and the public gallery, both filled to capacity. It was, perhaps, the most controversial of several recommendations the minister presented for handling what several MPs called a historical debate about changing the structure of government. Other recommendations in the Cabinet paper included: Acceptance of the principle of dual citizenship Handling the change from the Movement political system to multiparty political system by an amendment under Article 74. Allowing the matter of limiting the number of terms the President could serve to be decided by Parliament. Conducting presidential, parliamentary and districts LC5 elections the same day by secret ballot with all adults allowed to vote. Retaining, separating and allowing the independent existence of the Uganda Human Rights Commission, the Inspectorate of Government and the Electoral Commission. Letting the Public Service Commission appoint and discipline the CAO. Despite strong reaction in the Chambers to the recommendations, there was little debate about them. House leaders instead urged MPs to read, study and talk over the ideas with their constituents. Mukwaya said the White Paper would go up on the ministry's website, though the number of paper copies she could make would be limited by her budget. The Cabinet recommendation about recalling or removing traditional and cultural leaders seems likely to touch off a bitter dispute between government and Buganda kingdom officials. The Mengo establishment already has been involved in protracted talks with the government on federo which recently hit a deadlock. Mengo also lost out in the proposed composition of the Lukiiko. Mengo wanted to retain the current composition of the Lukiiko, which is comprised of the Kabaka nominees, Bataka appointees and Saza chiefs, but Cabinet recommended creating regional governments. �The general principle is that a regional government must be managed democratically in areas where there is no traditional or cultural leader as well as, in areas where there is a traditional or cultural leader,� Mukwaya said. She said in areas with no traditional or cultural leader, one political and administrative regional council would be appointed. In areas with such leaders, there would be either two regional councils, one political and administrative and the other cultural, or, one political and administrative council in which cultural interests are represented. The White Paper makes no mention of Mengo's bargain for the 9,000 square miles and the return of the capital city, Kampala to Buganda. Mengo Local Government Minister, Mr. Arthur Bagunywa responded angrily to the Cabinet proposals. �I view that as a move by the State to amass unnecessary powers. The Kingdom leadership would sit soon to discuss the contents,� he added. Mengo at the height of the federo talks threatened to withdraw its support from the government. The political undercurrents between the government and Mengo are reminiscent of President Milton Obote 1 abolition of kingdoms in 1967, after he clashed with Kabaka Muteesa II. Muteesa wanted to retain political authority, a move Obote interpreted as a ploy by the Kabaka to overthrow him.

� 2004 The Monitor Publications

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