Museveni attacks Constitution for empowering MPs

SOURCE: THE DAILY MONITOR, 29 NOVEMBER 2011

President Museveni has attacked the 1995 Constitution, saying the oversight powers it gives Parliament over the Executive undermines development.

The President made the comments on Sunday in relation to what he claims are legislative blockades of energy and commercial agricultural plans at Bujagali and Mabira Forest respectively.

“I am the President now sharing power with Parliament that is equally responsible for the failures,” Mr Museveni said during celebrations to mark the golden jubilee of the Anglican Church in Teso at Bethany Comprehensive Girls’ Secondary School in Soroti.
“Museveni brings an idea, Parliament blocks it and in short term you get problems of sugar and electricity,” he added, pointing out that during the Bush War that brought him to power, no one could dare to sabotage his projects.

It is not the first time the President accuses Parliament of blocking the initial attempt to develop a hydropower dam at Bujagali or turn over part of Mabira Forest to sugarcane growing.

However, it is the President’s strongest comments yet on the principle of separation of powers and checks and balances laid down by the Constitution, and comes amidst growing parliamentary outspokenness, particularly on governance and transparency in the country’s oil sector.

The comments also come amidst growing attempts by the government to silence critical media, restrict political activities, and introduce longer pre-trial detention for real and perceived enemies of the state. However, critics yesterday described the President’s position as escapist.

Blame game
Ms Alice Alaso, the secretary general of the opposition FDC party and also Serere MP, said President Museveni has always blamed failure on “anybody except himself” and accused the President of “desperately trying to change the Constitution in 2005 to have an upper hand over Parliament.”

MPs, some of whom received a Shs5 million inducement, then amended the Constitution to remove term limits to allow Mr Museveni run again in 2006 but plans to allow for a dissolution of Parliament if it disagreed with the President fell flat.

Theodore Ssekikubo (NRM MP, Lwemiyaga) said yesterday that the President should not look at Parliament as an enemy but as partner in nation building.

“He would be wrong to put the individual above institutions,” he said. Anglican Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi, who was the lead celebrant in Soroti, said multiparty politics should be used to help people achieve development, not to be looked at as enemies.

For instance, Archbishop Orombi said, a football match only attracts spectators if there is an opponent.

Archbishop Orombi also castigated politicians for being corrupt, saying instead of serving the people they have been taken up by the quest to amass personal wealth.
The Archbishop warned the clergy to desist from mixing church fundraisings with politics. The Church, he said, was above politics.