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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Beyond 'Third Term' Politics: Constitutional Reform and Democratic Governance in Uganda
Author:Okuku, Juma A.ISNI
Year:2005
Periodical:East African Journal of Peace and Human Rights
Volume:11
Issue:2
Pages:182-219
Language:English
Geographic term:Uganda
Subjects:constitutionalism
constitutional amendments
presidential systems
succession
Law, Human Rights and Violence
Politics and Government
Abstract:'Third term' politics has occupied centre stage in Uganda's transition from the Movement 'system' of government to multiparty democracy. Since 1986, Uganda has been governed under the Movement 'system', which is a quasi-one party-/military regime. There are manoeuvres to amend the Constitution and remove term limits and elect President Museveni, whose two terms end in 2006, although the Uganda Constitution (1995, Article 105 (2)) provides that 'A person shall not be elected under this constitution to hold office as President for more than two terms as prescribed by this article'. The present paper contends that alongside other constitutional changes that the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and President Museveni are calling for, the removal of constitutional term limits on the presidency constitutes a bid to sanction an executive dictatorship, a life presidency. The paper locates 'third term' politics in Uganda's history of constitutional reforms; examines constitutionalism and 'third term' politics in the broader African context; traces the origin of and the quest for a 'third term' by the NRM/President Museveni and the arguments made in support of a 'third term'; critiques the various proposed constitutional reforms and the initial method proposed for amendment, the so-called Omnibus Bill; and addresses the question of the vision for Uganda. A brief section that suggests the possibility of countering the life presidency agenda concludes the paper. Notes, ref. [ASC Leiden abstract]