The Government Chief Whip and NRM Parliamentary Caucus Chairperson, Thomas Tayebwa has said that as the ruling party Caucus, they are yet to receive the proposal to amend the Presidential Election Act where only Members of Parliament will vote for the Head of State.
Tayebwa wants Ugandans to appreciate that the proposed system is one of the known political systems practiced by successful democracies like Great Britain, Italy, Canada, etc.
He says that once the proposal is brought to the caucus, full consultations will be made with stakeholders.
While appearing on a local radio station CBS FM, Jackson Karugaba Kafuuzi, the Deputy Attorney General revealed that the Constitution Review Commission is set to start countrywide consultation in an attempt to gather public opinions about the matter.
On the other hand, sections of the public especially from the opposition are already reacting against the ‘scheme’ saying it’s intended to deny the people of Uganda a chance to vote for their President.
In Uganda, the President is elected by citizens who are above 18 years of age and are registered by the Electoral Commission (EC).
EC is a constitutionally established organ of the Government of Uganda, whose mandate is to “organize and conduct regular, free and fair elections” in the country, in an efficient, professional, and impartial manner.
Over the years, Parliament has been amending the Presidential Election Act. Uganda previously had a constitutional limit in place, allowing a maximum term of office of ten years (two five-year terms), until 2005, when the limit was eliminated by a constitutional amendment.
On December 20, 2017, Parliament passed an amendment to the Constitution that eliminate the requirement that candidates vying for the presidency be under 75 years of age.
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