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Uganda to benefit from US$21.3m grant from the UK

By
George Mangula
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Trade Minister Amelia Kyambadde

Uganda is among the 51 countries set to benefit from Shs76.68 billion (USD$21.3 million) grant that the United Kingdom has pledged towards the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF), a recent announcement from trade ministry says.

EIF is an innovative global trade programme that supports less developed countries to engender trade for poverty reduction, promote inclusive growth and sustainable development.

The UK made the announcement during a meeting for the EIF on the sidelines of the ongoing 11th WTO Ministerial Conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Amelia Kyambadde, the trade minister and leader of delegation to the WTO MC11, said the grant will help Uganda to further mainstream trade, address the supply side challenges and build the capacity to gain entry into the global trading system.

The EIF has been funding Uganda since 2008 with most of the funds injected in the mainstreaming trade at the grassroots through the District Commercial Services Project that was implemented by the Ministry of Trade Industry and Cooperatives (MTIC) since 2012. The project sought to arm District Commercial Officers (DCOs) with skills and tools to promote and grow businesses at the grass root.

“DICOSS focused on trade, tourism, industry and cooperatives sectors and the ability of both the GOU and the Local Governments to deliver these services at the grassroots level with DICOSS as the focal individuals to drive this agenda” said Kyambadde.

DICOSS has built the capacity of DCOs from 25 districts through redefining their functions, equipping them, building skills in them; and facilitating and improving their links with the Ministry, other government agencies and lower local governments, and the public.

“Because of the success of the DICOSS Project, Government has rolled out the Conditional Grant to all Local Governments to promote commercial services at the grassroots”, explained Kyambadde.

During the meeting the Minister of State for Trade Policy, Department for International Trade, UK Greg Hands said trade and economic development is clearly the most effective way for countries to create investment and jobs.

“I’m delighted that the UK’s generous support to the Enhanced Integrated Framework will help the world’s poorest countries trade out of poverty,” said Hands.

The funds from UK will help the least developed countries (LDCs) like Uganda to develop the tools, skills and economic capacity they need to become competitive in targeting new markets for their goods and services. Least Developed Countries account for 13 percent of the world’s population, but engage in less than one percent of global trade.

Speaking during the meeting, the WTO Director General Roberto Azevêdo cited EIF’s progress with helping LDCs improve production and create jobs by producing spices, mangoes, honey, textiles and other products.

“The EIF does vital work and has made a real impact on the ground,” Azevedo said, adding that: “We are starting from a low base here. There is still a huge amount to be done. We are particularly grateful for the UK’s commitment at this time. We see it as recognition that EIF and the countries it partners with are indeed on the right path.”

EIF Executive Director Ratnakar Adhikari said the funding commitments and pledges made at the Ministerial Conference and in the coming year will help LDCs ready themselves for paradigm shifts in the global economic system, including the growing trend in E-Commerce. EIF’s work so far has provided the world with success stories, Adhikari added, “But this does not mean that the work is done. Rather, it is a reminder of how important this work is—and how much more focus it deserves.”

This financial year 2017/2018, the EIF has extended a grant of USD 300,000 (Shs.1.1billion) to implement phase 2 of the Trade Capacity Enhancement Project (TRACE) in the Ministry of Trade.

 

 

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The entrepreneur’s guide for dealing with adversity

By
Guest Writer
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By Martin Zwilling

As a business owner in this age of rapid technological change, with the surge of worldwide competitors, setbacks and adversity are virtually guaranteed. Based on my years of experience mentoring and advising entrepreneurs, you need to attack problems and challenges with a mindset of success, or it is unlikely that you or your business will survive.

I found that view confirmed for a wide range of leadership situations in a new book, “The Mindset of Success,” by Jo Owen. He is a serial entrepreneur and founder of several successful startups, as well as a consultant to some of the world’s largest organizations. I like his outline of eight steps every leader should take in dealing with setbacks, which I have expanded here for entrepreneurs:

Take control of the situation, rather than play victim. When you can’t control everything, control what you can, and move forward in offense rather than backward in defense. In business, when growth eludes you, it may seem like you have no choice but to cut prices and people, when you could be finding better customer fits and more value.

Suppress you own emotions and feelings. If you get angry or upset, and adopt a victim’s mindset, your little cloud of gloom will spread like a major depression across the rest of the office. Separate the event from your reaction, and be accountable for your own feelings. At minimum, you must learn to wear the mask of leadership – cool, calm control.

Stay positive and believe in yourself. The best business leaders convince themselves that they can find a way through any adversity. They see challenges as an opportunity to learn and grow, rather than an opportunity to fail. They see others ahead of them as role models, not as competitors. They focus on their strengths, not their weaknesses.

Step back and broaden your perspective. When you are faced with the daily dose of problems and challenges, it pays to step back and contemplate your successes along the way, reflect on the fact that others are in more dire straits, and imagine the best possible outcome. Then you can focus on what is needed to make this happen and get on with it.

Draw on your experience and input from others. Drawing on experience helps to build perspective, but it also should give you some hints about what will work and what will not work in your current situation. Don’t try to be the lone hero – it pays to listen to other members of your team, who may be closer to the customer, and have better insights.

Find a way to laugh in the face of misfortune. Humor is a good way to keep perspective as well. Laughter helps you stay mentally healthy, and makes you feel good, even after the laughter subsides. Humor helps you keep a positive, optimistic outlook through remembering fantastic recoveries, marketplace surprises, and failed competitors.

Remember the end goal, but be adaptable on how to get there. The best leaders know that you can’t sail straight into the wind; you have to tack and jibe to make any progress. In the business sense, adaptability means being open to new product innovations and marketing concepts, and agile when conditions abruptly change.

Don’t be afraid or too egotistical to seek help. Don’t wait for help to come to you, or be convinced that only you can solve the problem. Business is not rocket science – others have been there before you and learned from it, and every business leader I know is more than willing to share their experience on what works, and what doesn’t work.

I’m convinced that building a successful business from a new idea is a marathon, not a sprint. Success requires deep reserves of stamina and patience to overcome setbacks. In my days as an angel investor, if I heard an entrepreneur claim to have never failed, I would conclude that he was not innovative, or he was lying. Every good entrepreneur I know has pivoted at least once.

The more directly you face adversity in business, the better you become at dealing with it. Thus adversity is not be avoided; it is to be embraced. It is your chance to change the world as an entrepreneur, and leave a lasting legacy like Steve Jobs and Bill Gates. How often have you stepped up out of your comfort zone in business when someone else stepped back?

 

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Kadaga vows to suspend MPs over violence again

By
Priscilla Alma
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Police at Parliament

The second reading for the Constitutional Amendment No.2 Bill 2017 kicked off on a tricky note with Speaker Rebecca Kadaga threatening to suspend MPs who indulge in violence for seven sittings.

The Speaker’s warning was based on events in Parliament in October, when opposition MPs protested against the tabling of the 75-year presidential age limit removal bill by Igara West MP Raphael Magyezi.

FLASHBSACK: Speaker Rebecca Kadaga visits Mukono Municipality MP Betty Nambooze, who was injured when SFC officers stormed the August House to forcefully evict opposition MPs.

In the ensuing period chaos broke out in the parliamentary chambers, with officers from the Special Forces Command (SFC) storming the house to forcefully evict opposition MPs who were against the bill, arguing that it is aimed at a perpetual Museveni presidency.

And in her communication to the House today, Kadaga called on MPs to debate about age removal with restraint and respect and listen to divergent views if they want to remain and exercise their voting rights to the Bill.

“The members who were suspended last time, if they do misconduct themselves again, they will be suspended again for seven sittings and these sittings run beyond Christmas. So don’t endanger your rights to speak, don’t endanger your right to vote. So I am asking MPs, let us tolerate one another, listen to one another,” Kadaga warned.

After her remarks, the Opposition MPs put up a spirited fight with Kawempe South MP Mubarak Munyagwa taking the lead when he alleged that another MP Simeo Nsubuga had threatened him outside Parliament chambers that the NRM side had secured seventeen guns.

However, Speaker ruled Munyagwa out of order saying the talk the two had was private and wasn’t captured in the Hansard, and that it left her with no powers to intervene over private talk.

It wasn’t long before Cecilia Ogwal, the Dokolo Woman MP, joined the fight, wondering if it was procedurally right for Parliament to proceed with the business of amending the Constitution when the crucial Ministers; Minister of Constitutional Affairs Kahinda Otafiire, Attorney General William Byaruhanga and Deputy Attorney General Mwesigwa Rukutana were not around to guide the debate.

The Shadow Attorney General Wilfred Niwagaba also weighed in and raised point of procedure, questioning if it was right for Parliament to proceed with the debate when the process of the tabling of the Bill is a matter of investigation before the East African Court of Justice.

In response, Kadaga told Niwagaba that she wasn’t aware of the nature of dispute at the said court and promised to rule on the matter later and immediately asked House to proceed with its business.

Another point of contention came from Opposition Chief Whip Ssemujju Nganda (Kira Municipality), who raised concerns over the authenticity of the report, noting that the certificate of financial implication given to Igara East MP Raphael Magyezi is questionable. He drew the Speaker’s attention to Rule 201 that calls for such matters to be referred to the clerk for investigation and reporting back to the Speaker before next sitting.

However, Ssemujju’s concerns were met by protest from NRM side and in response, the Opposition Chief Whip said: “I am not here on invitation, you can chorus how much you can but I must be heard. This is a matter that must have been handled during processing of the Bill at Committee. I am not raising a matter regarding the Bill not the report.”

In response Kadaga warned Ssemujju against abusing the Rules of Procedure that bars MPs to debate in anticipation. She argued that the report hadn’t been presented, adding that he should have raised his concerns in the minority report.

“Wait until when the minority report is presented then you raise issues. You are abusing the rules of this House. You should have written your own minority report,” Kadaga said.

Meanwhile, in the latest development the speaker has suspended five legislators for the afternoon session. She however, gave no reason for suspending Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, Allan Ssewanyana, Mubarak Munyagwa, Jonathan Odur and Gerald Karuhanga.

Following his ouster Ssemujju Nganda said Speaker Kadaga is acting like ‘an illiterate human’.

“Her lecturers must be crying now, unless they are dead,” he said.

For Munyagwa he described their eviction as ‘a red card’ and added that they had left open room for forceful re-entry.

“They are giving us red cards, we are going to have a meeting in the Office of the Opposition and decide if we will force our way into the afternoon session,’’ Munyagwa said, adding: “You cannot muzzle the voice of reason. I’m the voice of reason.”

 

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Leading academic raps ministers over corruption

By
Badru Kasadah
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MINISTERS ARE CORRUPT: Prof. Augustus Nuwagaba

A top academic has accused ministers in Uganda of fuelling corruption and pillaging public funds.

Speaking at the rebranding ceremony for the Microfinance Support Centre (MSC) at Sheraton Hotel Kampala, a bare-knuckled Professor Augustus Nuwagaba said that ministers don’t want to work and instead focus on stealing public funds.

“Poverty is on the increase in Uganda. One of the reasons behind this is high interest rates and corruption. These ministers are stealing public money. They don’t want to work… all they do is steal public money,” Nuwagaba, a professor of economics said, attracting applause from the audience.

“But I can never steal anyone’s money. I was taught to work hard by my mother that even if you told me to dig a pit latrine now so you can pay me, I would dig it. My village has produced one of the highest number of professors in the country. Prof Tumusiime Mutebile and Mondo Kagonyera. Our mothers never had money. They used to sell sorghum and got loans from the likes of microfinances to pay our fees. But these are no more now…” said Nuwagaba who was brought up by a single mother, having lost his dad when he was just 4 years.

He also warned against charging high interest on loans, saying it scares low income earners from borrowing.

In his speech, the minister of State for Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Haruna Kasolo, who was obviously rubbed the wrong way by the academic’s words, described Prof. Nuwagaba’s speech as ‘provocative’.

The Minister however, quickly changed course and instead started advocating for the sustenance of President Yoweri Museveni in power, saying the latter ‘is a good leader’.

Kasolo compared Museveni’s removal from power to the declining fortunes of former Premier League Champions, Manchester United, after former manager Sir Alex Ferguson left.

“Good leaders are scarce. Once you get them, maintain them. If you doubt this, Manchester United is a good example,” he said, adding: “Manchester United supporters always wanted Ferguson out but ever since he left, it started losing to even smaller teams.”

He added that Uganda won’t be different from Manchester United once Museveni leaves and that instead of focusing on the departure of Museveni, they should concentrate on things that improve their livelihoods.

“When you talk about ‘Togikwatako’, who pays you? For me, when I talk about politics, I get paid for it.”

Justine Bagyenda, the Chairperson of the board, Microfinance Support Center in response said they have the lowest interest rates in the country.

“With interest rates between 9 to 10%, we are still the best credit providers in the country,” Bagyenda, who is also the Bank of Uganda Executive Director of Bank Supervision, noted.

“Since 79% of Ugandans don’t have bank accounts, Microfinance Support Center has become the perfect answer. It gives affordable credit to farmers through SACCOs,” Ms. Bagyenda said.

 

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Fourth EALA set to be inaugurated on Monday in Arusha

By
George Mangula
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Dan Kidega's term as EALA Speaker ends this year.

Parliament of Kenya late Thursday elected its nine representatives to the regional Assembly, setting stage for the inauguration of the Fourth Assembly of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) on December 18, 2017, in Arusha, Tanzania, a press release from East African Community (EAC) Secretariat says.
Top on the agenda during the week-long First Sitting of the First Session of the Fourth Assembly, is the swearing-in of Members, election of the Speaker and that of Members to the EALA Commission as well as the constitution of various Committees.
The nine elected nominees to EALA from Kenya are; Simon Mbugua, Florence Jematiah, Mpuri Aburi, Aden Noor and Wanjiku Muhia. Other members are Oburu Odinga, Kennedy Kalonzo, Abdikadir Aden and Fatuma Ibrahim.
The Third Assembly wound up its tour of duty on June 4, 2017 and was expected to have commenced on June 5, 2017. However by then, only Parliament of Uganda, Parliament of Tanzania, Parliament of Burundi and Parliament of Tanzania had finalised the processes. The Transitional National Legislative Assembly of South Sudan on its part, had to repeat its elections following an application filed at the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) by a citizen of the country, Mr Wani Salantino challenging the process. The Parliament revisited the issue and held fresh elections on August 3rd, 2017, before filing the names with EALA.
Parliament of Uganda was the first House to elect Members to the regional Assembly on March 1, 2017. Their 9 Member team consists of three returning incumbents, Susan Nakawuki, Fred Mukasa Mbidde and Chris Opoka. The new faces to EALA are Rose Akol, Mathias Kasamba, Mary Mugyenyi and Paul Musamali. Others are Dennis Namara, and George Stephen Odongo.
Parliament of Tanzania returned Adam Kimbisa and Maryam Ussi from the Third Assembly. The newcomers include Hon Josephine Lemoyan, Hon Happiness Lugiko, Pamela Maassay, Dr Ngwaru J Maghembe, Dr Abdullah Makame, Eng. Habib Mnyaa and Fancy Nkuhi.
Parliament of Rwanda’s list submitted to EALA in May 2017, includes Hon Pierre Celestin Rwigema, Martin Ngoga, Gasinzigwa Oda and Kalinda Francois Xavier, all who previously served in the 3rd Assembly. New faces include Alex Bahati, Fatuma Ndangiza, Rutazana Francine, Barimuyabo Jean Claude and Uwumukiza Francoise.
Parliament of Burundi on their part elected Jean Marie Muhirwa, Leontine Nzeyimana, Ahingejeje Alfred, Hon Burikukiye Marie Claire, Hon Burikukiye Victor, Karerwa Mo-Mamo, Hon Nduwayo Christophe, Rurakamvye Pierre Claver and Hon Nsavyimana Sophie.
South Sudan’s representatives are Hon Dr Ann Itto Leonardo, Gai Deng Nhial Deng, Dr Woda Jaremiah Odok, Gabriel Garang Ahol and Dr Gabriel Garang Arol. Others are; Thomas D Deng, Mukulia Kennedy Ayason, Kim Duop and Gideon Gatpan Thoar.
Meanwhile, preparations for the forthcoming Sitting are at an advanced stage in Arusha with a number of Speakers from the Partner States’ Parliaments expected to grace the occasion.
All Members are expected to be sworn in by the Clerk before election of the Speaker. The new EALA Speaker who takes over from Daniel F. Kidega is expected to guide the Assembly over the next five years taking it a notch higher in the integration dispensation.
EALA is an Organ of the East African Community established in 2001 with a mandate of legislation, representation and oversight. It is constituted of nine elected members from each of the Partner States.

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New report pins Uganda, others on export of commodities

By
George Mangula
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UNCTAD Report pinning Uganda being launched in Lusaka.

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has launched the Commodities and Development Report 2017 pinning Uganda and other 15 COMESA member countries for continued export of commodities, leading to them recording low levels of development and high poverty rates.
The report bases its findings on the recent commodity price boom of 2003- 2011 which showed that strong commodity prices do not alter the long-term pattern of their terms of trade. The terms of trade of economies that dependent on primary commodities tend to deteriorate in the long run due to the secular decline of primary commodity prices relative to the prices of manufactured goods.
In view of this, UNCTAD has made several observations on the disadvantages of being too dependent on export commodities for developing countries. It has also given different policy recommendations that countries should introduce in-order to bring about holistic and inclusive development.
The 16 COMESA countries that are commodity export dependent have been named as: Burundi, DR Congo, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sudan, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Meanwhile, the report says Egypt, Swaziland and Mauritius have diversified their economies and are not categorized as commodity export dependant countries. COMESA officials have since proposed that a joint study be conducted with UNCTAD to come up with permanent solutions to the dependency of commodities for export.
The report showcases results of ten case studies conducted in twelve countries around the world namely: Costa Rica, Brazil, Argentina, Botswana, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Zambia.
The report urges countries to introduce polices that will help build a resilient economy through countercyclical fiscal policy, pursuing diversification and promoting good governance. Other policies include expanding linkages of commodity sectors with the local economy and promoting inclusive growth through social protection, investing in human capital and pursuing transparent policies.
Commodity export dependent developing countries derive the bulk of their export earnings from primary commodities such as minerals, ores, metals, fuels, agricultural raw materials and food. Export commodity dependence may cause potentially harmful impacts and affect all dimensions of sustainable development. Most of the developing countries that depend on commodity exports and/or imports are characterized by low human development
The annual Commodities and Development Report series is produced jointly by UNCTAD and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). It seeks to contribute to an understanding of the linkages between commodity markets and development outcomes by highlighting a number of transmission channels through which commodity prices impact an economy: First, there are impacts that emanate from the terms of trade. Second, commodity dependence presents fiscal and monetary policy challenges. Third, developments on international commodity markets can affect consumers and producers at the micro level.

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Museveni urges clergy to fight poverty

By
George Mangula
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President Yoweri Museveni greeting religious leaders at 2017 national prayers at State House-Entebbe.

President Yoweri Museveni has urged Ugandan religious leaders to join government and fight against poverty in the areas that they serve as they preach the Word of God.
The President was speaking during the Annual National Thanksgiving Service held at State House, Entebbe under the theme’ Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God’. The service was hosted by Museveni and the First Lady Janet Kataha Museveni who also happens to be Uganda’s Minister of Education.
“68 per cent of homesteads are in subsistence farming. They don’t care about making money yet we are in the era of money economy. You Christians and Moslems must take the lead in chasing poverty from Africa. You cannot have a nation of Moslems with poverty. You, the Christians in the village, how are you shining? You cannot escape by just praying,” he said.
Museveni said NRM Government’s prioritization of the sectors moved the Harvard Centre for International Development to indicate that by 2025, Uganda would be the fastest growing economy in the world.
“We always take the narrow path if necessary. In 2006, the government took a strong stand to suppress the budget and focus on infrastructure, electricity and the army. The Harvard report is one example of reaping what we sowed after taking the narrow difficult path,” he said.

Members of the security agencies in attendance.

The President said government took tough action and decision that has helped numbers increase in Lake Victoria, which he said would open up fish factories again. He said the UPDF played an important role in the replenishment of fish stock as they apprehended culprits who were catching immature fish.
He urged religious leaders to continue preaching the message of reconciliation, forgiveness and love. He congratulated Ugandans for finishing the year of 2017 and wished them a prosperous year 2018.

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Lindiwe Sisulu drops out to support Ramaphosa in ANC race

By
Agencies
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Ms Lindiwe Sisulu

Lindiwe Sisulu has dropped out of the race for leader of South Africa’s governing African National Congress (ANC) to instead contest the deputy position.
Ms Sisulu will contest the position under Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa who is in a tight leadership race with Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the former African Union commission chief.
A joint statement from the two nominees said:
“The Deputy President of the ANC, Comrade Cyril Ramaphosa and Comrade Lindiwe Sisulu have welcomed with humble appreciation the nominations of the ANC branches, indicating that they would like Comrade Cyril to be the next President of the ANC and Comrade Lindiwe to be the next Deputy President of the ANC.”

Mr. Ramaphosa

Ms Sisulu’s move is seen as a last-ditch effort to remain at the top of the party.
Her backing of Mr Ramaphosa is seen as a boost to his campaign ahead of an intensely competitive party conference which has split the ANC down the middle.
President Jacob Zuma, who backs his ex-wife Ms Dlamini-Zuma in the race, will step down as party leader over the weekend but will remain head of state until 2019.

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Court declines to halt Age Limit proceedings

By
Geoffery Serugo
-

Assistant court registrar of High Court Joy Kabagye has today dismissed application filed Former presidential candidate Abed Bwanika, Asuman Basalirwa, president general of the Truth and Justice Forum (JEEMA) and former legislator for Rubaga South John Ken Lukyamuzi.
The three had asked court to block the amendment of Article 102 (b) and instead take it through referendum.
In her ruling Ms Kabagye said parliament under article 79 is mandated to amend any article of the constitution therefore, its powers cannot be interrupted since it has not violated at laws as far as the amendment is concerned.
‘’Since parliament is an independent arm government, Applicants concerns were so empirical however at this point court has nothing to interrupt its powers’’ she said in her ruling at high court.
She also faulted them of excluding Electoral Commission which they have an issue with about the manual way of collecting signatures which has retarded holding of a referendum about the controversial bill.
Earlier in first sitting Attorney General William Byaruhanga asked court be mindful not to interfere with the business of the second arm of government and to uphold the doctrine of its powers however Ladislas Lwakafuzi petitioner’s layer argued him that court has always rendered acts passed by parliament as unconstitutional, null and void.
He further told court that the people of Uganda through court want to have a referendum on article 102 (b) of the constitution.
Early this year, Dr. Bwanika received a form from EC to collect 1.5 million signatures required for referendum to be held, a process that was frustrated by police that confiscated documents with over 40,000 signatures, making it impossible for him to make submissions on time yet Parliament is set to debate the matter.
The three wanted court to compel the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) provide a ‘USSD code’ on which they can collect electoral signatures and also compel the Electoral Commission to accept and consider the said signatures for purposes of holding a referendum.
The three contended that it’s cheaper and quicker to collect Electronic signatures as opposed to the traditional way but the EC, reportedly on the advice of UCC, has refused to accept this move.
“Unless court orders that Parliament temporarily suspends discussing the age limit amendment bill, the citizens’ rights to directly participate in the governance of their country will be violated” Lwakafuzi said at the High Court on Monday after filing petition.

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Mixed reactions as ‘minority report’ questions prickly Shs13b ‘consultation’ funding

By
Our Reporter
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Markson Jacob Oboth, the Chairperson of the Legal and Parliamentary Committee

There are mixed reactions from members of the public who appeared before the legal and parliamentary affairs committee, to give views about the removal of the presidential age limit that is capped at 75 years under the 1995 Constitution.

In the overall 128-page report compiled by the committee headed by Jacob Oboth-Oboth and forwarded to the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga, proponents of the Bill that was moved by Igara West MP Raphael Magyezi, say that Uganda still needs President Museveni, with arguments that ‘the continuity of Article l02 (b) of the Constitution will threaten peace and tranquility both with in Uganda, East Africa and Africa as a continent and that it shall impact on development and slow down the achievements registered since l986’.

The now-contentious Bill was first presented to Parliament on October 3 by Magyezi and the forwarded to the committee for scrutiny, after which the eight members who drafted the Minority Report including Medard Lubega Ssegona (DP) , Abdu Katuntu (FDC), Wilfred Niwagaba (Independent), Mathias Mpuuga (DP), Monica Amoding NRM), Muhammad Nsereko (Independent), Ssemujju Nganda (FDC) and Anne Adeke Ebaju (Independent/Female Youth), wrote the Minority Report.

And in their report, the eight MPs pointed out to Speaker Kadaga that among other inconsistent issues, the age limit removal bill does not meet the some of the poignant qualifications as specified in the law.

According to the eight MPs, Magyezi’s Private Members Bill is in contravention of the Uganda Public Finance Management Act, 2015, in that it has financial and cost implications on government, inadvertently making reference to the Shs29 million that was recently given to each MP to ‘consult’ with the voters over the bill.

‘The Certificate of Financial Implication by the Minister of Finance upon which the Bill was premised is offensive to Section 76 of Uganda Public Finance Management Act, 2015,’ part of the Minority Report states.

It adds: ‘In microscopic event that the reference was being made to Constitutional (Amendment) (No-2) Bill of 2017, falsely indicates that the Bill has no possibility of inflicting any additional cost on MTEF, yet as minority we have observed that Parliament has already spent over l3 billion shillings that had not been budgeted previously for facilitating members to carry out consultations’.

The members also averred that the removal of term limits is supposed to further benefit President Yoweri Museveni, who has now been in power for 31 years but is not eligible to contest for presidency under the current constitutional dispensation that caps the age at 75 years.

‘The minority observe that the amendment is only brought for the convenience of the President (Museveni) just like the removal of term limits,’ they noted.

They added: ‘Guided by the above considerations, the minority members are of the opinion that repealing Article l02 (b) at the moment is very dangerous as it is being done for only one possible beneficiary, the current President’.

The members also take issue with their colleague who argue that the amendment is in fulfillment of the Supreme Court ruling that followed a petition filed by former presidential candidate John Patrick Amama Mbabazi, a former Prime Minister who contested against President Museveni in the 2016 elections.

‘The presentation of the Bill by the said Private Member cannot be in compliance of terms and directives of the Supreme Court rather it’s the actions of on overzealous member of the House who should not hide under the clock of that judgment.

‘Indeed the age limit was never on issue before Court. The critical issues before Court and contained in that judgment have deliberately been left out of this Bill’, the members further argued.

FULL COMMITTEE REPORT 

Legal Com Report on the Constitution (Amendment)(No.2) Bill, 2017 (1)

Legal Com Report on the Constitution (Amendment)(No.2) Bill, 2017 (1)

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