Kampala: Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has criticised judges for nullifying the extension of the term of Parliament from five years to seven and described their decision as an “undemocratic age limit nonsense.” The President also warned the judges that they are not the ones in charge of the country, adding that he and his NRM party MPs will “harmoise and galvanise” their position on the matter. Earlier the Constitutional Court on a 4-1 majority ruling upheld the amendment of the Constitution to remove the presidential age limit.
However, the five judges unanimously nullified the extension of the term of Parliament, saying it was unconstitutional because MPs did not seek or obtain people’s consent on the issue. The petitioners had asked court to nullify the removal of age limit on the presidency and the extension of the term of Parliament.
“By a unanimous decision, court declares that the Constitution Amendment Act of 2018, which provide for the extension of the tenure of Parliament and local government councils by two years and for the reinstatement of the presidential term limits, unconstitutional for contravening the provisions of the Constitution,” Deputy Chief Justice Owiny-Dollo stated in his ruling. In a statement, Museveni said according to his “freedom fighter’s sense of justice”, the extension of the term of Parliament focuses more on the convenience of seven years instead of five.
“With the five years, a lot of time is spent on electioneering and less time on development; the first two years settling in, the third year some work in the constituency and, then, by the fourth year, electioneering again,” Museveni said. He said before making their ruling on the extension, the judges should have considered NRM’s massive victory in the recent Local Councils and women committee elections. “We shall harmonise and galvanise our position. The undemocratic age limit nonsense was clear,” Museveni said.
On life presidency
Museveni also dismissed the arguments that the age limit removal will pave way for his life presidency. He said they are uninformed evil schemers who do not want Uganda and Africa to succeed. Removal of the age limit allows Museveni to stand for re-election as many times as he wishes. He has been President since 1986.
When contacted yesterday, Chief Justice Bart Kutureebe said: “I cannot respond to a letter I have not seen and read. There is a judgment that was made and might come on appeal at the Supreme Court and once I comment about it now, I might have conflict of interest and I will not comment about people’s opinions,” Justice Katureebe said.
