PARLIAMENT NEWS , Wednesday, May 13, 2015 7 MPs query government constitutional amendments

By Joyce Namutebi

Government proposals contained in the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2015 which was tabled in Parliament recently, have attracted “sharp” criticism from lawmakers at the start of the review of the Bill by the legal and Parliamentary affairs committee. Meeting the Minister of Justice and Constitutional affairs, Kahinda Otafiire, yesterday, the MPs described the proposals as “cosmetic, unconstitutional and discriminatory.” Some MPs went to the extent of referring to some of the proposals as stupid. The MPs demanded a compilation of all the proposals that were submitted to the ministry so that they could examine them. Otafiire appeared before the Members from the opposition addressing journalists about the government proposals for electoral reform as contained in the Constitutional committee to officially introduce Amendment Bill 2015 at Hotel Africana in yesterday. Photo by Nancy Nanyonga the Bill. Present was the Attorney General, and his deputy, EC, but that his own view of board, saying this was a populist being proposed. Ayena questioned the wisdom of . independence is not in the word, but proposal, whose intention is to attack Mbale district Woman MP Connie having 1,000 signatures for a candidate The Bill’s objective is to amend how the commission is constituted, a Parliament. Galiwango suggested the retirement standing as an independent. the Constitution of in view, which was also shared by most Isingiro South MP Alex Byarugaba age for judges be made uniform. West Budama North MP Fox Odoi accordance with articles 259 and 262 of the committee members. (NRM) asked Otafiire to provide a list Ndorwa East MP Wilfred Niwagaba (independent) wanted to know the of the Constitution, to among others, “Just giving it a name doesn’t of all the other proposals that were expressed disappointment with the specific value the word “independent” change the name of the Electoral make it independent,” Katuntu submitted in order for the MPs to Government for “tabling amendments adds to the independence of the Commission (EC) to Independent said, adding that “having one of the determine which ones should come which are cosmetic in nature”. Electoral Commission. Electoral Commission, to increase the candidates competing having the sole first. He warned against rushing the He asked the minister to state He described as stupid the proposal retirement age for justices and judges responsibility of appointing the EC amendments. elements of independence of the EC on the retirement age for judges. and to provide for a salaries and doesn’t render the body independent.” and how the proposed amendments Busiro East MP Medard Sseggona renumeration board. Katuntu questioned the rationale of conform to the commission. asked Otafiire to explain the criteria After listening to issues raised by the requirement of 1,000 signatures BETWEEN THE LINES: Niwagaba wondered how the justice used to select which proposals the MPs, Otafiire said they needed for a person intending to stand for minister could bring amendments to be tabled at a particular time. well-thought out answers. He asked election as an independent candidate. n The Bill’s objective is to to Article 83 of the Constitution on “For how long must we amend the for permission to review the issues “Why do you want to raise the bar amend the Constitution to tenure of an MP, when the matter is a Constitution?” he asked. raised and come back with written for independents? It is discriminatory among others, change the name subject of judicial interpretation. Sseggona concurred with his responses. He is expected to appear and unconstitutional,” he said. of the Electoral Commission “Are you looking at controlling only colleagues’ views on the 1,000 before the committee next Tuesday. Katuntu proposed a uniform to Independent Electoral specific members of Parliament?” signatures. Reacting to Otafiire’s presentation, retirement age for all public servants. Commission, to increase the Niwagaba asked. Citing persons with disabilities, shadow Attorney General, Abdu The Bill seeks to increase the retirement age for justices Oyam North MP Krispus Ayena he wondered what will happens to Katuntu (FDC), said he was objecting retirement for justices of the Supreme and judges and to provide for a (UPC) concurred: “We should be constituencies that have less than to 90% of the Bill, describing the Court and Court of Appeal from 70 salaries and renumeration board. interested in substantive issues of 1,000 voters. proposals as “shallow, illegitimate and to 75 and for the judges of the High amendment.” Sseggona expressed concern that unconstitutional.” Court from 65 to 70 years. Byarugaba asked the minister and He criticised what he called “the the Government proposals did not Katuntu observed that they all agree Katuntu opposed the creation his team to explain the difference discriminatory nature of treating carry anything from the dialogue on the need to have an independent of a salaries and renumeration between the existing EC and the one members of the judiciary”. political parties recently held. Opposition urges MPs to reject constitutional amendments

By Nicholas Wassajja changing the name of the Electoral ensure that the reforms are enacted to Commission to Independent Electoral “The country take into account the proposals from Opposition political parties and civil Commission, but retain the president all Ugandan stakeholders.” society organisations have slammed as the appointing authority. should rally behind The Leader of Opposition in Government over the proposed “The provisions on the core demands Parliament, Wafula Oguttu and FDC Constitutional Amendments Bill for electoral reforms were given a president Mugisha Muntu, agreed 2015, saying it does not meet citizens’ shallow and cosmetic approach and Parliament and that the call to make changes in expectations on electoral reforms. falls short of citizens’ expectations to the Bill is a struggle that must be They said the Bill ignores the have free and fair elections in 2016.” demand that it rejects approached from different angles. will of citizens to have substantive Munabi said. “All forms of struggles must be constitutional and electoral reforms Last year, a series of public rallies implored, but moving toward the same Besigye for free and fair elections. were held in 14 regional forums the Bill. “ direction, that is why we have agreed The executive director of the Forum to consult citizens on the nature to meet the legal and parliamentary for Women in Democracy, Patricia of reforms to improve the electoral affairs committee. Although Munabi, said pushing for the reforms system, before the next poll. Embattled Lord Mayor Erias and impunity. They should do the individually, we shall speak the same will result into establishment of a The national consultations later Lukwago said at the opposition needful and reject the Bill, if tabled in language,” Muntu explained. credible electoral system that will adopted a citizens’ compact on free joint press conference held at Hotel its current form,” Lukwago said. DP spokesperson Kenneth Kakande guarantee free and fair elections. and fair elections, containing 17 Africana yesterday, that much as Former FDC party president Kizza argued that if the Government and Yesterday, MPs on the legal and proposals, that were presented to the NRM might have the numerical Besigye said because the population the citizens have the will to realise parliamentary affairs committee Government. strength in Parliament to frustrate might not be aware of Government’s free and fair elections, then they will started scrutinising the Constitutional Munabi said: “The Government is their demands, they will engage MPs response to their demands, they are be implemented before the 2016 polls. and Amendments Bill 2015. They met handling matters of interest to the at individual level to ensure that the rallying them as a means of creating JEEMA president Asuman Basalirwa different stakeholders to give their citizens with arrogance and impunity. reforms see the light of day. awareness. and Bishop Zac Niringiye urged all views about the same. There is no reason why they left out “We are looking at Parliament as an Besigye said: “The country should democratic forces and peace-loving The Bill, which was unveiled late our proposals, yet we submitted them institution that should always defend rally behind Parliament and demand institutions, like the media, to fight for last month, among others, included to all the relevant offices.” the country against state arrogance that it rejects the proposed Bill and free and fair elections.