After the majority in the parliament of Uganda voted in support of the amendment of the country’s constitution, the country is waiting to when President Museveni will sign the bill which will then be regarded a law, hence changing the constitution to legally include it.
The move has left the hearts of several Ugandans sunk, as President Yoweri Museveni, he who has ruled the country for 31 years, will continue to rule the country for more years to come, probably for life – sources show.
Dr. Kizza Besigye, the leader of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), the strongest opposition party in Uganda, commented upon the current situation in the country.
‘It’s been a tough year for Uganda. Many terrible things happened but the most concerning thing is the attack of the constitution,’ said the former presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye.
‘We have observed new & strange situations in our country this year… the most concerning is the attack on the constitution of the people of Uganda. That attack started with trying to take away land rights and later on attack provisions of transition and peaceful transition of power’
‘We call it an attack, an overthrow of the constitution because of the way it has been done,’ the opposition leader explained.
‘This one touches the core of our country. It’s the spinal cord of the politics of Uganda. Uganda has never had a peaceful transition of power and this is a matter that doesn’t only bedevil our country but it’s a challenge to many African countries.’ He stated.
‘As we talk, our neighbors in DRC have a president whose term expired long term ago. Kabila is serving a term without any mandate and it has caused a lot of trouble.’
‘We had blatant violations of rules of Parliament led by the custodian of those rules, Speaker Rebecca Kadaga. She was the lead attacker, violator of those rules. MP Raphael Magyezi’s age limit motion came on floor of parliament in violation of rules. Rules were violated from the beginning up to the end.’
‘The MPs have simply been tools for Mr. Museveni to overthrow the constitution. But those MPs disgracefully, without any pain also extended their life in Parliament.’
It is reported that after the ruling party MPs voted for the constitution to be amended, they also sought for their terms in office to be extended from 5 years to 7 years.
‘Very disgraceful that Ugandans can be abused to that extent by MPs extending their stay in the House to seven years. This cannot be interpreted in any way or manner except that this was a very violent way of overthrowing the constitution,’ Mr. Besigye angrily explained.
‘We are united here to condemn in the strongest term possible of what has happened, the disgraceful MPs whose names shall forever remain on the board of shame of our country.’
‘What we are united here today is simply to invite the people of Uganda to do their duty. Ugandans are still stuck in asking, what are you Lord Mayor doing? How come we don’t hear you? What next! Yes we have a duty, like all Ugandans. We are here to implore Ugandans take up their duty…So that we can have a peaceful transfer of power so that we defeat the life presidency of Mr. Museveni,’ added Kampala Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago.
Our constitution is now worthless. Ugandans don’t take Mr. Museveni seriously. He said Museveni Pakalast (meaning, Museveni till the end), and they thought he was joking. Now he has shown that he’s there Pakalast. We now have a duty.
This is a matter of life and death in our country. To either take back our country or leave in sub judice.
Correspondent: Shamilah Namuddu
