I FIND IT HARD TO FORGIVE PROF. BUKENYA GIVEN HIS ROLE IN MUSEVENI'S TERM EXTENSION

For the likes of Prof. Gilbert Bukenya though Professors, they have played a big role in getting Uganda where it is.  By being party to the removal of Presidential term limits, at that time, Prof. Bukenya could not foresee any problems!  It is difficult not to judge the likes of Prof. Bukenya as opportunists.

I remember very well, Prof. Bukenya while Vice President, Buganda riots took off, however, he never used his position to cool President Museveni, and the President went as far as putting the Radio off air for a year.  As if that was not enough, the NRM Government had promised to build the official residence for the Katikiiro of Buganda and the plan was given to Prof. Bukenya, it is not clear whether the Government where he served ever got off ground to get the building implemented.  Prof. Bukenya was aware that Buganda was demanding billions due to it in rents, I am yet to learn of the billions he helped to recover from Government where he served as Vice President.

I cannot support his bid for President.

William Kituuka Kiwanuka

Bill on term limits goes to Uganda Parliament

President Yoweri Museveni addresses the Ugandan parliament. Parliament will soon be called to account when a private member’s motion to reinstate the two-term limit is brought to the House. Photo/FILE 

By JULIUS BARIGABA The EastAfrican

Posted  Saturday, April 13  2013 at  18:40

In Summary

• The Bill seeks to overturn the September 2005 decision of the Seventh Parliament that amended Article 105 of the Constitution to hand Museveni a third term in State House.
• According to Sarah Bireete, director of programmes at CCG, Uganda’s leadership of the region raises deeper questions about governance as the country is the only misfit in the EAC bloc, which is working towards a political federation.
• Activists also want Uganda’s Electoral Commission reconstituted as per the demands of political parties and key donors.re 

With fears of Uganda retrogressing towards a life presidency, political activists and some members of parliament have kicked off a campaign they hope will lead to an amendment of the Constitution to restore presidential term limits.

Just last week, as Kenya was swearing in Uhuru Kenyatta, its fourth president since Independence, the Kampala-based Centre for Constitutional Governance (CCG) handed a motion, with, attached to it, a private member’s Bill, to Speaker of parliament Rebecca Kadaga.

The Bill seeks to overturn the September 2005 decision of the Seventh Parliament that amended Article 105 of the Constitution to hand Museveni a third term in State House.

“This is a one-page Bill just to amend and return Article 105 to the 1995 constitutional order; hence any person elected twice under that arrangement is ineligible to contest again. Obviously that’s going to be big debate, but we are ready,” said Western Youth MP Gerald Karuhanga, the mover of the motion.

Now on the Speaker’s “in” tray, the motion is expected to enter the order paper soon, after which it gets a first reading before being referred to the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee. The second and third hearing, along with the vote on the Bill, will determine its fate.

Seconded by five other legislators across the political divide, the Bill could have far reaching governance, political and economic implications. For starters, restoring term limits would lead to the first peaceful transition since Independence, putting Uganda at par with its key EAC partners, especially Tanzania and Kenya, whose leaders have served two five-year terms since going multiparty.

According to Sarah Bireete, director of programmes at CCG, Uganda’s leadership of the region raises deeper questions about governance as the country is the only misfit in the EAC bloc, which is working towards a political federation.

“We are the only EAC country without presidential term limits. How are we supposed to federate if our system is out of sync with our neighbours? The report of the African Peer Review Mechanism also notes that Uganda has governance gaps because of lack of term limits,” she said.

I Started 3rd Term Talk, Says Bukenya 

Publish Date: May 30, 2003

By Edris Kisambira

VICE President Prof. Gilbert Bukenya said that he initiated the third-term talk and he cannot stop it.
Speaking in Luganda at Kakiri at the launch of a Euros1.1m food security project, Bukenya said, Nze natandika okwogera ku kisanja ekyokusatu, ate nyinza ntya okutandika okugaana abantu okukyogerako? (I initiated the third term talk, how can I then come out and try to stop it?).

Bukenya, who hosted the European Union (EU), Italian and Chinese ambassadors was reacting to a lead story in The Monitor newspaper of Friday that said he had stopped people from agitating for a third term for President Yoweri Museveni. Yesterday (Thursday) we were in Namayumba launching a new malaria drug. I did not mention anything to do with the third term but The Monitor has come out with a story that is contrary to what happened. The Monitor’s headline today should have been like ..... Bukenya launches new malaria drug,he said.

Writing wrong sensational news is what is going to bring us trouble. Newspapers should not write headlines to disturb and cause us problems. If there is nothing to write about, nothing should be written. I think it was confusing, and could result into divisions in the country. Ambassadors Sigurd Illing, Li Qiangmin and Maurizio Teucci were present.

Bukenya spoke passionately about Museveni saying that he is stuck with Museveni and that he will never forsake him for whatever reason.

I will support Museveni like it or not. Museveni has moulded me, he has taught me politics, he is my political mentor and I cannot leave him. Where would I go if I decided to leave Museveni?

Uganda: Vote Museveni for Kisanja - VP

By Joseph Mazige, 11 July 2005

Iganga — Vice President Prof. Gilbert Bukenya has asked the people of Iganga to support President Yoweri Museveni for a third term because lifting presidential term limits by Parliament was obvious.

"Support the Movement. Within three weeks we should have passed the kisanja. (Constitution Amendment Bill). Support the President, Movement because this will keep our country peaceful and developing," he said in Luganda while addressing a rally at Iganga Town Council Primary School.

 

 

Museveni quarrels with Bishop over term limits

Sunday, 17 June 2012 22:05

Written by David Kazungu

READY TO LECTURE: President Yoweri Museveni

Term limits: Museveni to lecture bishops Mbale - President Yoweri Museveni has advised the clergy to avoid challenging him over the restoration of term limits, saying he would organise a conference to lecture them on the controversial issue.
A clearly agitated and tough-talking Museveni spoke at a centenary celebration and fundraising event at Nabumali High School in Mbale on Saturday. In yet another indication of his discomfort with respected religious leaders differing with him on key political questions, Museveni accused clerics of straying onto what he considers his political turf.
The president was reacting to Bishop Daniel Gimadu, of North Mbale diocese, who asked him to heed to the popular call of restoring term limits. In 2005, the ruling National Resistance Movement engineered the abolition of term limits from the Constitution, a move that made Museveni eligible to run for a fourth term in last year’s elections.
But in recent months, religious and civil society leaders have called for restoration of presidential term limits and urged the President to consider retiring in 2016, to allow for a peaceful transfer of power.
Bishop Gimadu returned to the subject on Saturday. In an inspired homily, the bishop urged Museveni to restore term limits so as to be at par with other countries in East Africa. “If you want to leave a legacy as an outstanding leader within the East African federation, you need to restore term limits so that when time comes for you to retire, your subjects will back you as a democratic leader who allowed them to freely choose their leaders. In Kenya, Tanzania and other East African countries, term limits are paramount, why not Uganda?” Gimadu had said, as people cheered.
Museveni was not impressed. He retorted that he was “tired” of always leaving a talk of term limits hanging. “The bishop gave us a good homily which touched my soul; unfortunately, he turned his good words of wisdom into politics which I think is not the good way for the clergy to venture in,” the president told a silent, seemingly stunned audience.
He added: “I want to end this talk once [and for all], so that the clergy can concentrate on their flock as I tackle mine politically. I am, therefore, organizing a conference where I will invite all the bishops and sheikhs so I can give them a lecture on term limits; none of them knows politics more than me,” Museveni said.

TERM LIMITS QUARREL: Bishop Gimandu and his wife

He challenged the bishops to first fight HIV among their flock before turning their heat on him. He wondered how a country with 85 per cent of the population Christian, 12 per cent Muslim and only three per cent pagan could be tormented by HIV/AIDS. And while this goes on, Museveni suggested, the clergy, who are supposed to instill morals in Ugandans, have abandoned their role and turned to politics.
“Where does a good Christian get HIV from? Does he get it in Holy Communion or you the clergy are not telling them about spiritual morals?” Museveni said. “If HIV was among pagans alone, then it would be no more because as government, we would have fought it, since it is easier to change a pagan than a Christian who already has his spiritual values guided by his spiritual guardian.”
Sounding triumphant, Museveni added that he had warded off Bishop Zac Niringiye (retired Kampala assistant bishop)’s “lecture” on term limits. About unemployment, Museveni blamed it on poor guidance to the young people, who fail to choose marketable career options.
“Many graduates have not benefited from their expensive education because they cannot find employment anywhere,” the president said. “They took careers that must be competed for in the public service yet the public service can announce a job vacancy once after thirty years. We need to have many of the students take careers in medicine, agriculture, ICT, private sector, industry and tourism so as to get employment.”
He said the new Shs 16bn Graduates fund, announced by Finance Minister Maria Kiwanuka on Budget Thursday, would help university leavers to set up businesses. Museveni contributed Shs 80m towards the construction of the school’s Shs 1.5bn technology centre, which will host science and computer laboratories.
At the event, Nabumali’s distinguished alumni were recognized with medals; they included former Principal Judge James Ogoola, Umukuka (Bamasaba cultural leader) Wilson Wamimbi and veteran politician Darlington Sakwa, On Friday, Museveni laid a foundation stone for the construction of both Mbale industrial park and main market, expected to create 300,000 direct and indirect jobs.

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