The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Former MPs drawn into age limit debate
Former legislators Rhoda Kalema, Joyce Mpanga and Miria Matembe have jumped into the debate, urgning parliament to “protect and uphold the 1995 national constitution to avert a political conflict.”
The former ministers represented Kiboga, Mubende and Mbarara districts respectively in 1994 in the Constituent delegates Assembly (CA) which subsequently promulgated the 1995 constitution.
The three legislators made remarks at a function held by parliament to mark the international day of democracy under theme of democracy and conflict prevention.
Kalema argued that the members of the 10th parliament must read the constitution and also understand the meaning of democracy which is to make decisions on behalf of the people.
Miria Matembe noted that after the removal of term limits by the seventh parliament, the current MPs have a second chance to keep the safe guard against life presidency by not lifting the age limit of 35 to 75 years.
“By the time we were making the 1995 constitution, we were like born agains. We were looking at Museveni as an angel. We shouldn’t have trusted him to entrench the age limit or the term limit”, said Matembe.
Matembe also expressed her disappointment with the First Deputy Prime Minister and Adjumani West MP Gen Moses Ali who said that the problem is article 259 of the constitution which gives parliament powers to amend most of its provisions.
Ali added that the ruling party NRM should not be blamed for ruling for the last 31 years.
“Stop blaming the NRM because the opposition or any other person cannot stand and win the various elections that have been held in the past,” said Ali the parliament event.
He was responding to remarks by the president of the Uganda Law Society Francis Gimara that MPs must consult their voters over the age limit question and that those opposed and supporting the proposal should be given equal platform.
Gimara delivered a public lecture on democracy and conflict prevention in Uganda where he said that Uganda has gone through at least five phases of conflicts and must deal with about five disputes for peace building.
He named them as intolerance in the two largest political parties NRM and FDC, rising impunity, human rights violations, economic crises, poor facilitation of the judiciary yet it is the arbitrator.
The function also marked the 60th anniversary of women’s entry into parliamentary democracy. An award was given to 99-year-old Florence Alice Lubega who was the first woman MP in Uganda’s legislative Council in 1958.
Lubega represented Singo North West constituency which is in present day Mubende and Mityana districts.
I hope those brewing trouble were around in 1979, 1985 and 1986. Gen Tito okello recruited K’jongs in army in an attempt to thwart NRA on false hope that they a fierce fighters and would deliver victory for him. Its worked in negative, never think war is not science, all options are possible in Uganda. Speak responsibly for there is tomorrow.