Opposition Members of Parliament have launched a new campaign code named Kogikuteko, following the passing of the Constitution(Amendment)(No.2) Bill, which shall lift the presidential age limit and extend MPs’ tenure to seven years if it is assented to by the President.
The Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Winfred Kiiza (Kasese District) says the campaign will be premised on the opinion of Ugandans about the way forward.
Addressing the media at Parliament, Kiiza said that six Opposition MPs had gone to the East African Court of Justice to challenge the process of the Bill and the way it had been moved. She added that they had highlighted issues pertaining to the certificate of financial implication and the strangers who invaded the Chamber to evict MPs.
“Government has the mandate to amend the Constitution; it’s not the responsibility of an individual,” the LOP said. She commended MPs who actively engaged their electorate during consultations on the bill’s amendment.
NRM’s Mbwatekamwa Gaffa (Kasambya, Mubende) said the extension of the term of MPs to seven years was to hoodwink Members to affirmatively vote to pass the amendment.
“You may have won the battle, but you lost the war,”Mbwatekamwa said.
Kumi Municipality MP Silas Aogon castigated MPs who voted against the views of their constituents, saying that despite losing out on their intention, their will and spirit was still alive.
Hon. John Baptist Nambeshe (Mayinja, Bududa) made mention of statistics that indicated that 75% of Ugandans were against the removal of the age limit from the Constitution.
On Wednesday, 20th December 2017, Parliament of Uganda passed the constitutional amendment bill with 315 MPs voting in favour of it; and as of now, it is before the President for assent before it is passed into law as an Act of Parliament.