Ugandan legislators voted late on Wednesday to amend the country’s constitution to allow 73-year-old leader Yoweri Museveni to extend his rule, potentially guaranteeing him a life-time presidency.
A provision in the current constitution limits the age of a presidential candidate at 75 years, which would have made Museveni ineligible to stand at the next polls in 2021.
At the end of Wednesday’s day-long House debate, which capped a protracted and violence-marred process to remove that age limit, MPs voted 315-62 in favour of the amendment.
“I am disappointed that our own constitution, which is supposed to be durable as it is stated in the preamble has been amended just like that,” said Robert Centenary, an opposition legislator.
The bill to amend the constitution was introduced in parliament on October 4 by a Museveni loyalist, after two consecutive days of brawling in the debating chamber between those opposed and those in favour, supported by security personnel.
“This bill is like any other normal bill, it is not special it’s like any other bill and to us, it is normal business there is nothing strange about it,” said an NRM MP, Moses Balyeeku.
Wednesday’s vote was the second time the Ugandan parliament has changed the constitution to allow Museveni extend his rule. In 2005, they voted to remove a limit of two five-year terms, which blocked him from standing again.
The bill also extended the length of a term for MPs to seven years from the current five. The limit of two terms was also re-imposed for the president, although that only means Museveni would be limited to two more terms, starting with the 2021 election.
“The bill will not help this country because even (only) a few NRM MPs have gained from this bill. But Ugandans who are suffering like us we are not going to gain anything, it is just for only Museveni, the one who is going to gain from it, but for us Ugandans will not gain even a single cent,” said Abel Muchunguzi in Kampala.
“We don’t have political future in this country from up to date (today). Because first of all Museveni is a military dictator. He is the one who is tampering with the constitution, everything is under him. When you look at security, when you look at all the institutions, even the judiciary even the electoral commission, everywhere, is under him. He (Museveni) is the one to say pass it,” said Michael Odong.
Several African leaders have amended laws designed to limit their tenure. Such moves have fuelled violence in countries including Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan.
Opposition legislators said on Thursday that they would continue to oppose the amendment.
“The journey we are going to embark on is the journey, ‘kogikuteeko’ (now that you have touched it), what next after you have touched the constitution, what next after you have broken the hearts of Ugandans?” said Winnie Kiiza, the leader of opposition in parliament.
Initially hailed for restoring political order and fostering economic growth, Museveni has lately come under mounting pressure fuelled by runaway corruption, and accusations he uses security forces to maintain his grip on power.
