May 30, 2011 the article in question spells out the qualifications for eligibility for one to become president of uganda contentious of which one must be a citizen of uganda by birth, must not be less than thirty five years of age and not more than seventy five years and must be qualified to be a member of parliament. Sep 27, 2017 at a time when uganda is struggling with unresolved murders, widespread land evictions, natural disasters and unabated corruption, some politicians are busy promoting and sponsoring debate around the amendment of article 102b of the 1995 constitution of uganda to remove presidential age limit. In my humble understanding, once you move to touch on the constitution, then you have advanced to touch on the heart and. Article 102b uganda parliament passes age limit bill. Article 102b of the uganda constitution states that a person is qualified for election as president if that person is not less than 35 years and not more than 75. Article 102b of the constitution will be changed minister.
Parliament to probe nrm claim that article 102 b was smuggled. Making sense of ugandas stalled agelimit bill constitutionnet. In my humble understanding, once you move to touch on the constitution, then you have advanced to touch on the heart and soul of the nation. Oct 14, 2017 justice minister gen kahinda otafire has told the people of igara east in bushenyi district that article 102 b of the constitution that deals with the presidential age limit, will be changed. Uganda needs to develop and pursue a fresh and lessconfrontational. Administrative functions of the deputy chief justice. Nrms nec meets, supports amendment of article 102 b of the.
Mar 14, 2017 article 102 b of ugandas 1995 constitution states that a person is not qualified for election as president unless that person is not less than thirtyfive years and not more than seventyfive years of age. The costitution of the republic of uganda 1995 concourt. Ugandas constitution of 1995 with amendments through 2005. The first constitution of uganda was the product of the ugandan constitutional conference and took effect at the moment of independence 9. Paragraph a of clause 2 of this article applies also to a person who was married to a citizen of uganda who, but for his or her death, would have continued to be a citizen of uganda under this constitution. Article 102b stipulates that a person is qualified for election as president if that person is not less than 35 years and not more than 75 years of age. It is 22 years since the 1995 constitution was promulgated, including article 102 b. Among the severeal proposed amendments, is lifting article 102b of the 1995 constitution of uganda to remove the age limits 35 75 for presidential candidates. Article 102 is a safeguard for creating and expanding civic and political space. Article 102 needs to be respected so as to bolster into its fledgling multiparty dispensation. Tracing origin of age limit article 102 b the observer.
Ugandas 19941995 constituent assembly was influenced by the american constitution and the thinking that went into that. Accusing them of working to destabilize the government by opposing the governments plan to rescind article 102 b of the constitution, on september 20, the upf raided the kampala offices of human rights ngos actionaid and great lakes institute for strategic studies gliss and raided solidarity ugandas su office in lira district. This is a simplified and abridged version of the constitution of uganda which has been prepared by the uganda law reform commission. According to birija, this is the entrenchment of dictatorship in the 1995 constitution with only checks in article 105, 102 b. Article 102 c is also vague because it stipulates that one who has qualification for a member of parliament is fit to be president, does this imply that some one who has qualifications to be. Dec 20, 2017 parliament has this afternoon approved a motion for the continuity of the controversial age limit bill, which seeks to lift the cap on the presidential age from the constitution. Bill eliminating presidential age limit and extending. He spoke at the victory party for the area mp michael mawanda who won an petition filed against the election of former mp andrew martial. First, this not only demonstrates how nonempathetic the agents of.
Amending article 102 contravenes our governance commitments under the eac protocol. Your attention to this matter and the voices of ugandans that you represent will be a step in the right direction. Analysis it is 22 years since the 1995 constitution was promulgated, including article 102 b, which caps the upper age for presidential candidates at 75 years. A cross section of kaberamaido county residents welcomed the proposed amendment of article 102b of the constitution that proposes the removal of. Oped article 102b is not broken, dont fix it uganda. The clause states that, a person shall not hold office as president for more than two terms. To amend or not to amend article 102b is an issue of the constitution. This reprint of the constitution of the republic of uganda incorporates and consolidates all the above amendments made to it. Constitution of the republic of uganda 1995, as amended to 2005. Ruhakana rugunda has told the committee on legal and parliamentary affairs that the claims that article 102 b was just smuggled into the constitution are false. Among the severeal proposed amendments, is lifting article 102 b of the 1995 constitution of uganda to remove the age limits 35 75 for presidential candidates.
The fourth and current constitution was promulgated on 8 october 1995. The article, which restricts ugandans outside the 35 75 age bracket from running for president, reports suggest, is under threat form elements in the ruling nrm. Legal monitor article by hanibal goitom covering constitutional law. Nrms nec meets, supports amendment of article 102 b of. Sep 22, 2017 oped article 102b is not broken, dont fix it. Say no to amending article 102 b of the uganda constitution. Finally the house reinstated the presidential terms in the constitution by passing clause 105 of the bill. Constitution of the republic of uganda home facebook. Jul 17, 2017 article 984 provides that, while holding office, the president shall not be liable to proceedings in any court of law. Article 102 b was smuggled into the constitution of uganda. Rugunda contradicts nrm claims that article 102b was.
Presidential term limits back, age limit lifted and 7 yrs for mps. Amended by the constitution amendment act, act 1112005and the constitution amendment no. Qualifications and disqualifications of the president. Sep 30, 2016 although brought as a private members bill, and seeking to raise only the retirement ages of judges and electoral commissioners, it was widely, and correctly, perceived as a first step towards undermining and eventually amending article 102 b of the constitution to remove the presidential age limit. Mbale, uganda hearing of the constitutional court petition challenging the amendment of article 102b to remove presidential age limits resumed on tuesday in mbale. The 1995 constitution established uganda as a republic with an executive, legislative, and judicial branch. Article 1 1 all power belongs to the people who shall exercise their sovereignty in accordance with this constitution. Become a subscriber and read up to 20 recent articles for free. Article 102 b of ugandas 1995 constitution states that a person is not qualified for election as president unless that person is not less than thirtyfive years and not more than seventyfive years of age.
That is why the bill has been dubbed the age limit bill. The present constitution was adopted on 8 october 1995. Analysis it is 22 years since the 1995 constitution was promulgated, including article 102b, which caps the upper age for presidential. This constitution is the supreme law of uganda and, subject to the provisions of sections 5 and 6 of this constitution, if any other law is inconsistent with this constitution, this constitution shall prevail and the other law shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void. Kampala, uganda the independent debate on the constitution amendment bill no2 of 2017 kicked off monday evening and continues. Constitution of the republic of uganda, 1995 as last. National objectives and directive principles of state policy. The ruling party nrm is attempting to amend article 102 b of the constitution that provides for the presidential age limit at 75. The roles and powers of each of the government arms are enshrined and spelt out in the uganda constitution 1995. This was quickly followed by approval of article 102 b, lifting the age limit of 75 for one to contest for presidency. The secretary general of uganda diaspora p10 and former chairman masindi district, steven kazimura birija, has called on ugandans not only to resist but be worry of the omnibus amendment of articles 26 and 102 b by museveni through his pseudo parliamentarians which will turn them into slaves. The constitution of uganda is the supreme law of uganda.
The opposition and civil society championed campaign to stop the amendment of article 102 b of ugandas constitution is facing yet another huddle a legal one this time. We the people of uganda would like to bring to your attention our concern regarding the anticipated move by the legislative branch to amend article 102b of the uganda constitution. The commission traversed the entire country seeking views of the people on the subject matter therein the constitution before president museveni accented to it, hence making it the first democratic uganda s constitution in 1995. For article 102 of the constittttion, there is substituted the followingul02. Parliament to probe nrm claim that article 102 b was. It sanctions a republican form of government with a powerful president. To amend or not to amend article 102 b is an issue of the constitution. In these circumstances, uganda enters a delicate phase. Analysis it is 22 years since the 1995 constitution was promulgated, including article 102b, which caps the upper age for presidential candidates at 75 years. Change the culture of political party centered coercive consultations and legislative maneuvers in amending the constitution.
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