Saturday 20 June 2015

Reduce President’s powers, locals tell House committee

Reduce President’s powers, locals tell House committee


By KIHEMBO WILBERT

A section of residents in Busoga region have called on Parliament to reduce powers of the president.

While giving their views to the Parliamentary Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs in Iganga Town on Tuesday, several residents said the current Constitution vests too much power in the president, which could explain why President Museveni is clinging on to power.

The committee chaired by the Bukooli North MP, Mr Baka Mugabi, was holding a regional consultative meeting to get public views for adoption during the review on constitutional amendments.

Restoration of term limits
The residents called for the restoration of presidential term limits and resignation of a president two weeks to nominations of presidential candidates in a general election.

“Some of the demonstrations that occur in Kampala are as a result of the President overstaying in power. My proposal is that there be two term limits for President with each term lasting five years,” Mr Fred Mukupya, a resident of Nakigo Sub-county, told the committee.

The proposal was backed by a former candidate of the opposition Forum for Democratic Change party in the March 2015 Bugiri LC5 by-elections, Mr Bumali Luba.

“I also propose that a president should resign the seat two weeks to nomination day and instruments of power be handed to the Chief Justice until a new president is elected,” Mr Luba said.

They also called for an independent electoral commission appointed by the Judicial Service Commission and scrapping of Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) posts.

“The RDCs should be removed because they are serving the ruling party instead of serving all Ugandans,” Mr Hassan Muyinda, a resident, said.
Bugweri MP Abdu Katuntu, a member of the committee, said restoration of presidential term limits and creation of an independent Electoral Commission have been cross-cutting concerns.

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