Sacrificing our freedoms for Kisanja?

By Hopes N. Kikonyogo


The movement against the third term/kisanja prompted by the proposed constitutional amendment, in form of the white paper presented to the paliament late last year, suggesting limiting a president to three terms other than two is gaining momentum.

This momentum is a result of the main stream media in Uganda which has relentlessly given us this impression that public opinion against the extension has reached goliathan heights. Sooth Sayers and many of their cousins have successfully in planted in us possibilities of till death do us apart rhetoric generating a fear of statutory hereditary monarchy among urban Ugandans. Even John Nagenda, Kaguta's Senior Presidential Advisor on the media and perhaps his chief propagandist jumped onto the band wagon with seemingly no hesitation, if his articles are anything to go by. The times of politics as a career seem to be over (or are they?).

The opponents of the kisanja argue that democratic governance requires responsible and accountable elected president and that accountability will be severely hurt when the elected Museveni becomes even entrenched. They all seem to sound like John Adams' students, when they profess that the two term limits envelop the incurmbent with virtues of humility, patience and moderation "...Without which every man in power becomes a ravenous beast of prey."

That the third term is so long it will corrupt the incurmbent, entrench a hereditary monarchy that will be hard to dethrone. Perhaps somebody did not remind the opponents they may have come a little bit too late, for Kaguta had consolidated his grip on state power firmly, relegating meaningful political competition to the gutters and building himself a system that is providing him and his movement electoral advantage over his lackadaisical challengers who seem to crumble like play cards each day that passes.

If you thought political careerism is over, think again for the political gods are not smiling. Its becoming evident that the opponents are themselves not interested in extending term limits to their portfolios and offices. I wonder why they would agitate for definite eligibility to the presidency and then turn around to exempt themselves as MPs, LCs and heads of political parties. Hypocrisy perhaps, opportunism maybe.

This is where I beg to defer from all term limit sympathizers. It does not seem to bother all of you that by imposing limits you violate the Ugandan's fundamental right to choose and to a preference as guaranteed by the UN Charter of rights (Universal Declaration of human rights).

I have always had an inner conviction that term limits are fertile grounds for corruption, also an undeniable base for political, social and economic instability. The incurmbent with a limited allocation will always be tempted to make the most of the short terms allotted to him. As Gouverneur Morris once suggested that the writing will be on the wall for him "...Make hay while the sun shines."

The state of affairs in USA paints a better picture of my argument here, a new govenment hastily endeavoring to leave a legacy by reversing the previous govenment's policies to suit themselves, lobbyists, their party and the corporate world at the expense of national interest. How would you then fault the notion that indefinite eligibility insures domestic tranquility.

The people are sovereign and the govenment is their servant. If that is so, then by chaining the will of sovereign Ugandans to legalities and limitations you are collectively defranchising their vote and therefore violating their basic right to choose/preference. Why shouldn't the incurmbents avail themselves for service if the electorate choose to give them their confidence?

Citizens of Uganda have a constitutional right to stand for any political office within their perceived competence, we should not be seen as detering them. What other incentive will a politician have to perform and please the electorate than limitless terms, for the greatest restraint on him is the realization that he has to face the voters for re-election and be judged on his perfomance in office.

Both two and third term salesmen are the same wine in different bottles bent at violating even the basic free will of the people of Uganda to exercise their right to a franchised ballot. I want no limits, favoring unending eligibility for political office, for I categorically believe that this rhetoric of term limits is inconsistent with the freedoms we are presumed to be generally enjoying.