Mushega blames violence on 3rd term
Publication date: Thursday, 19th April, 2007
Amanya Mushega
By Fortunate Ahimbisibwe
Political violence in Kampala and the proposed giveaway of Mabira Forest is a consequence of the lifting of the presidential term limits, former secretary general of East African Community, Amanya Mushega, said yesterday.
In 2005, Parliament amended the Constitution and abolished the term limits.
The amendment allowed President Yoweri Museveni to stand again last year.
Mushega said: “Had we kept term limits and for the first time had a peaceful hand-over of power, there would not have been the creation of numerous districts at ago, there would not have been black mambas and club-wielding chaps, there would be no hand-over of national assets arbitrarily, and this Mabira everyone is talking about.”
The longer a leader stays in power, the less the person remains part of the solution and the more the person becomes part of the problem, he said.
In his address, Mushega maintained that term limits were crucial for democracy and stability. He accused the Government of weakening institutions, rendering them almost irrelevant. He singled out the Police which he said had been turned into a partisan force, which the Government uses to constrain the opposition.
Mushega was delivering a keynote address at a two-day public debate at Makerere University, which was organised by the convocation committee. His paper was titled: ‘The rule of law: Where is Uganda heading?”
Earlier, opening the debate, Parliament Speaker Edward Ssekandi argued that the institutions of governance must be respected.
“Societies where the rule of law is not paramount are vulnerable to the exercise of arbitrary governance which is a recipe for public disorder and anarchy.
Institutions supersede the individuals who serve under them.” However, after Mushega’s address, Ssekandi did not react.
Government Chief Whip Kabakumba Matsiko defended the Government. She said Article 43 of the Constitution, which prescribes limits to fundamental rights, must be respected. “When the opposition is enjoying its rights, it should not undermine the rights of other Ugandans.”
She said the Government was not abusing human rights or deliberately undermining institutions but blamed under-funding. “This is the first government where people are allowed to demonstrate. The problem is that they end up disturbing the peace of other citizens.”
Mushega was supported by the leader of opposition, Prof. Ogenga Latigo, and several other opposition MPs. Latigo said: “The NRM has only managed to increase the police force from 12,000 to 15,000 in 20 years.”
Kitgum MP Beatrice Anywar warned of more violence if the Government insisted on degazetting part of Mabira Forest for the Mehta Group to grow sugarcane. “Nobody will stop us.
Not even the threats or the organs that they use to intimidate us. You cannot suffocate the people’s voice for a long time.”
Lubaga North MP Beti Kamya said, “The Constitution has been abused. The Government is now using instructions on mobile phones to run the country. We shall not accept this.”
This article can be found on-line at: http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/12/560838
