Ugandan third-term protest halted The political temperature has been rising in recent months Ugandan riot police have fired teargas and water cannons to disperse hundreds of demonstrators in the centre of the capital, Kampala. They gathered to protest against moves in parliament to amend the constitution and allow President Yoweri Museveni to stand for a third term.
The protesters fear this would open the way for President Museveni to become president-for-life. The twice-elected leader is barred from seeking re-election in polls next year. Third term Police had blocked off the city's Constitutional Square where opposition groups planned to meet to march towards parliament. Organisers then re-convened in another part of town where they began to march towards parliament, chanting anti-Museveni slogans. The West is becoming less tolerant of Mr Museveni "Uganda is destined for doom if Museveni is to be allowed to stand again," read one of the placards. Mr Museveni introduced the 'Movement' system of government to try and prevent the chaos and ethnic conflicts that plagued Uganda throughout the 1970s and early 80s. While he has defended it as a 'no party' system, critics say it amounts to one- party rule. Referendum At present political parties are allowed to exist but candidates for office must run as individuals, not as representatives of a party. HAVE YOUR SAY Why can't you now rest? You have showed the country what to do and we appreciate all the good things you have done Ayoub Kakaire, Mbale, Uganda Ask Uganda's president The Ugandan government and opposition parties now all support a return to multi- party politics ahead of elections in a year's time. The constitution is being changed to allow this. However, Mr Museveni's critics say the changes, which once backed by MPs will need to be approved in a referendum, are also being used as a smoke screen to let the president stay on in office. The question to be asked in the referendum is: "Do you agree to open up the political space to allow those who wish to join different organisations/ parties to do so to compete for political power?" Five years ago, a similar referendum backed keeping the "movement" system. \\\\\\\"Always be a first rate version of yourself instead of a second rate version of someone else.\\\\\\\\\\\\\" Njoki Paul University of Pretoria _______________________________________________ Ugandanet mailing list [email protected] http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/ugandanet % UGANDANET is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/
