Opposition blasts government on referendum

Following cabinet’s resolution of supporting the holding of a referendum on the extension of the presidential term of office from five to seven years, members from the opposition have blasted this decision.

This resolution follows the passing of the constitutional amendment Act of 2017 which amended the constitution to extend the presidential and parliamentary terms of office.

During this process, members from opposition expressed concern over government’s way of conduct and they are at it again.

Some of the opposition members have vowed to challenge the decision reached at by cabinet claiming it is unconstitutional.

“The constitution does not give them power to extend the term starting with this current one, they can extend the next one, but not this one.”, Abdul Katuntu said.

Ssemujju Nganda the opposition chief whip argued that the resolution is in contempt of court and that cabinet’s resolution might not come to pass until court pronounces itself on the matter.

Ofwono Opondo, the government spokesperson disagreed with the opposition.

“They are just afraid of the outcome, why are they scared of the referendum yet they were calling for it last year?” Opondo said.

Abed Bwanika, a former presidential candidate who last year fronted the idea of a referendum on the matter of the age-limit has not changed position even when the reason for referendum has changed.

He said this is the only time Ugandans will decide on political matters without interference.

Whereas the MPs agreed to extend presidential term to seven years, parliament warned that the entrenched article will only be decided in a referendum as stipulated in article 260 of the 1995 Constitution.

If this goes as expected, it will the third time Uganda will be holding a referendum under the NRM government.

In 2005, Ugandans went for the referendum to reintroduce multiparty system.