[Ugnet] Northern MPs predict more misery

[Matek Opoko]

Northern MPs predict more misery

EMMA MUTAIZIBWA, GERALD WALULYA & MERCY NALUGO

PARLIAMENT Members of Parliament from northern war-torn areas yesterday said if President Yoweri Museveni is granted a third term, it would trigger off another spell of suffering for people living in Internally Displaced Camps. But several Movement MPs put up a spirited fight as debate on lifting Presidential term limits entered Day two, saying granting another term of office to Museveni would not cause political turmoil. Opposition Nwoya County MP Zachary Olum said harder times lay ahead of the people in the north living pathetic lives in Internally Peoples’ Displaced Camps, if President Museveni remained at the helm of power after 2006. Said Olum, “My people have suffered for 20 years and shall continue suffering, if term limits are lifted.” Erute North MP Charles Angiro said the government is acting in a callous manner to think of lifting term limits, yet it has failed to wipe out the insurgency in the north. “We are beginning to think that Joseph Kony, the LRA rebel leader does not exixt. Supposing it (LRA rebellion) is a manipulation by the government?” Angiro wondered. He said his constituents summed up the third term as, “sad term, mad term and death term.” Other opposition MPs warned of peril saying Museveni in his quest for life presidency might suffer the same fate that befell his predecessors. Makindye West MP Nsubuga Nsambu said, “Most of our leaders have been removed by force. We are indirectly trying to create another kingdom where Museveni would be the first king.” Kibale County MP Charles Byaruhanga said no individual could possess a monopoly of a political vision. He said lifting term limits is a recipe for disaster. “History shall judge us harshly,” he said. Isingiro South MP Johnson Nkuuhe said, “Museveni should have retired from presidency in 2001 because his performance curve had started to decline as early as 1998. Pro-third term MPs Several Movement MPs, however, said lifting term limits would not be catastrophic. Nakasongola MP Muruli Mukasa said the fears expressed by the opposition MPs on lifting term limits were more “imaginary than real.” “There is no harm in lifting term limits now, today and tomorrow. We cannot go back to turmoil because the spirit of constitutionalism has already taken root,” Mukasa said. Luweero Woman MP Prof Victoria Mwaka said even without term limits, people can get rid of a bad leader through a vote. “If experience is needed everywhere, why not in politics?” Mwaka said. Mr Mulengani Bernard (Bukooli Central) said, “There should be competition and nobody should be given power on a silver plate.” Defense Minister Amama Mbabazi said the greatest crisis in Africa is poor leadership. “Uganda has had the crisis of leadership since independence until the Movement took power in 1986,” Mbabazi said. Speaker Edward Ssekandi said debate on the Bill, would end this Thursday. The debate, which had highly been anticipated to turn explosive, has been mundane with many MPs not turning up. After this stage, the Bill shall be subject to the next stage, which is the Second Reading. At the Second Reading, for the Bill to pass to the Committee stage, it will require support of a quorum of about 100 MPs. During the Committee stage, each clause shall require a two-thirds majority to be passed into the law. Other Issues Other clauses of the Bill include allowing dual citizenship, transferring the appointment of Chief Administrative Officers from District Service Commissions to the Public Service Commission. The Bill also proposes that a referendum should be held in case of a deadlock between Parliament and the President. The Legal and Parliamentary Affairs committee chaired by Jacob Oulanyah (Omoro) has already voted in favour of lifting term limits. Some minority committee members have however, differed from the committee position and have written minority reports to the House.

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