The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The need for a holistic review of the 1995 constitution dominated a meeting organized by the coordinating team of the Uganda National Dialogue in Gulu district on Wednesday.
Participants asked the team to root for a constitutional review noting that some of the articles give the president a lot of power.
Justine Obol, the Gulu district Democratic Party secretary argued that although article (1) of the constitution states that power belongs to the people, this isn’t reflected in the country.
He tasked the team to ask parliament and party leaders to consider pushing for a total constitutional review exercise instead of picking up a few issues like land ownership, natural resources, elections and tenure in parliament.
Kelly Komakech, the Pece Division LC III Chairperson argued that the power struggle in the country has been longstanding due to loopholes in the constitution, which grants the present too much power.
Livingstone Okumu Langol, a member of the Uganda People`s Congress party explained that the constitution gives too much power to the president to appoint and fire top officials.
According to Okumu, the power of the president to appoint the Chief Justice, Inspector General of Police and top army generals has jeopardized the country`s struggle towards equality.
Justice James Ogoola, the head of Uganda National Dialogue, said all the concerns raised by the participants will be presented for discussion during the national dialogue at a date yet to be set.
The Uganda National Dialogue team was on Wednesday meeting selected leaders in Gulu District on a pilot exercise for the proposed citizen`s dialogue.
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