CITIZENS' ACTION FOR THE RESTORATION OF PRESIDENTIAL TERM LIMITS

　

CITIZENS’ ACTION FOR THE RESTORATION OF PRESIDENTIAL TERM LIMITS

"All power belongs to the people who shall exercise their sovereignty in accordance with this Constitution."

Article 1 of the 1995 Constitution of Uganda

Fifty years ago, Uganda was salvaged from the yoke of colonialism. We pay homage to the men and women of courage who took the fight to the colonialists until they won the freedom to direct the affairs of our country. Day after day, year after year, generations of Ugandans: men, women, youth and children from the North to the South and from the West to the East and the Centre, have worked tirelessly to secure that freedom and create the conditions in which Ugandans can live in dignity and prosperity. In the process, we have uplifted each other. But in many ways, we have also blamed each other for the little progress made, through relentless struggles fought at different times of our independence history. Ugandans have maimed, killed and abused each other, and plunged our country into the land of limited freedom.

We must remind ourselves of the lives lost during the armed struggle to liberate our country from Idi Amin Dada who unleashed the worst dictatorship ever known to this country. And the struggle by the National Resistance Army (NRA), the many young men and women who put aside potentially promising careers, together with the small boys and girls—our own Kadogos—who staked their lives and comfort to fight for good governance, political freedom and sustainable peace. Even then we know that these compatriots never fought against a foreign enemy. On the contrary, their guns faced brother and sister and relative and friend. To each one of them, dead or alive, we salute them with the enduring promise that our generation and generations to come will fight a different form of battle to create a legacy of freedom and democracy for which many shed blood.

When President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni stood on the precincts of Parliament on that January day in 1986 and declared "…the problem of Africa and Uganda in particular is leaders who overstay in power," we cheered what we thought was a genuine fundamental change. So, when the men and women of the Constituent Assembly installed term limits to the presidency in Article 105(2) of the Constitution they knew that they were building a legacy of peaceful transfer of presidential power and authority. It was thus one of the darkest days in our history when the 7th Parliament removed presidential term limits on September 30th, 2005. At a single stroke of the pen, we returned to the politics of survival that has seen the suffering and death of millions of Ugandans.

As we celebrate 50 years of independence, we believe this is the right time to reclaim the solemn declaration that "Power belongs to the People." Now is the time to make real the promise of democracy and transformation embedded in that January 1986 statement. After 50 years of

independence, now is the time to lift our national policy from the quicksand of social injustice to the solid rock of human dignity.

That is why today, March 26th until September 30th, 2012, Ugandans across the country, men and women, youth and children, boys and girls, people of all religions, fishermen and women, farmers, workers and teachers, businesspeople, politicians and comedians, are coming together to reclaim our power by demanding the restoration of presidential term limits not later than September 30th, 2012.

To our Members of Parliament, the restoration of presidential term limits will set our country on a course to the peaceful transfer of power and mark a new beginning for Uganda @50. What makes this different from other beginnings is that it is peaceful and non-negotiable because today, we are announcing our commitment and resolve to traverse the five corners of this country to mobilize every citizen in demanding this gift. Those politicians who align with this demand will be our allies. Those who oppose it will be declared hostile to freedom. Those politicians who seek to turn this campaign into a partisan campaign—and brand it ‘anti-NRM’ or ‘pro-FDC,’ ‘anti- DP’ or pro this and that—will be regarded as the enemies of progress and the agents of social and political stagnation.

To the men and women in our security forces: You have had the honor of wearing this Nations’ uniforms and you have served our country with commitment, courage and distinction. But like teachers who cannot afford a dignified living and yet they teach this Nation’s children, like our doctors and nurses who work every single day and night to save lives, like our famers who work the shambas to feed this country, and of course like the working men and women who pay their taxes to run our government, we know you have your frustrations including poor remuneration, the lack of descent housing and the nightmare of retiring into a life of neglect short of dignity. In previous campaigns, segments of our security forces have been deployed to disrupt the civic activities of our citizens. Your actions in support of this campaign will be the ultimate test of your patriotism and commitment to serve your country.

Finally, this is our message to our dear President: We cherish your service to country and continent. However, there comes a time when men and women of goodwill take the remarkable step and focus on securing their legacy. As Ugandans of goodwill, we claim the ultimate responsibility to ensure that Your Excellency are able to retire honourably, peacefully with dignity by May 2016. By so doing, Your Excellency, you will be the first in the history of Uganda to grant peaceful transfer of presidential power. We therefore invite you to be on the side of Ugandans on this matter and when you take the stand to address the Nation as our chief celebrant on the 50th anniversary of our independence on October 9, 2012, you will announce to the entire nation that you have worked with our Members of Parliament to reinstate term limits.

For God and my Country

For further information, please contact:

Center for Constitutional Governance (CCG)

www.ccgea.org/www.ccgea.blogspot.com/info@ccgea.org

P.O.Box 72340 Kampala, Uganda

Tel/Fax: +256 312 273 113