Nakaseke farmer wants constitution translated into local languages before amendment

A concerned Ugandan farmer from Nakaseke district has petitioned the Constitutional court to have any amendments to the constitution, including article 102 (b) halted.

Through his lawyers led by Anthony Wameli, 27 year old Jimmy Twase who refers to himself as a concerned Ugandan says he stopped in Primary seven and cannot read and write English in which the Constitution is and that it should be translated into local languages.

"I can properly read, write and sufficiently understand Luganda which is one of the local Ugandan languages and I interact with many people on matters to do with laws but I don't understand them,"Twase says in his affidavit.

"I am greatly curtailed that I cannot well appreciate and understand the 1995 constitution because it is only in the English language. "

He says many Ugandans like him dont understand the provisions of the constitution yet they would want to participate in matters concerning constitutionalism.

The 27 year old farmer from Nakaseke district says he is not aware of any government program to have the constitution , which is the supreme law for the country translated and published in local languages.

"Majority of Ugandans are therefore deprived of of their right to defend the constitution because it is in a language they don't understand, "Twase says.

He adds that many Ugandans would be left disadvantaged and suffer irreparable damages if the constitution amendments including article 105 (b) are passed by parliament without the entire constitution is changed into various local languages.

Twase says the constitutional court should halt any actions by parliament to proceed with constitutional amendments.