Fears for Uganda's future
2005-07-01 08:46
Kampala - Uganda's almost certain abolition of limits to presidential terms could return the East African nation to the days of bloody violence not seen since the disastrous rules of Idi Amin and Milton Obote, opposition figures said on Thursday.
With the passage of a constitutional amendment scrapping term limits a near certainty after lawmakers' overwhelming endorsement on Tuesday, President Yoweri Museveni is nearly assured a third term and possibly several more, leading to a situation where the only way to change leaders is by force, they said.
"It is sad that Uganda will get back to its past bad ways," said Paul Ssemogerere, leader of the opposition Democratic Party and former foreign minister under Museveni.
"Many people who want to access power will now have to opt for violence," he said.
Once popular
Museveni — who stormed to power in 1986 coup, ousting Obote from his second spell as Uganda's leader — was once a darling of the international donor community but his desire to remain in office past the constitutionally allowed two terms has aroused concern.
Britain has suspended some assistance citing the slow pace of democratisation and other countries have warned they are considering similar moves, while the European Union (EU) has made new aid contingent on reforms.
At home, opposition figures see the price of Museveni's potential life-long hold on power not in dollars but in lives, noting Uganda's brutal political history, including the current president's own ascent to power.
"Maintaining President Museveni in power has been a very expensive venture," said opposition legislator Reagan Okumu.
"The vote means the dying will continue," he said, complaining that Museveni was not delivering on promises to restore political pluralism.
No level playing field
"We expected a level playing field, which is not there," Okumu said, accusing Museveni and his allies of bribing MPs to secure the 232-to-50 vote in support of the constitutional amendment.
"We expected respect for the opposition, but we are instead harassed and intimidated," he said, noting Museveni foes have been sidelined and in some cases arrested.
"The government will have to act against those who are opposed to what we think is a major (positive) constitutional change," said information minister Nsaba Buturo.
He maintained the change is a victory for democracy because Ugandans will now be able to hire and fire their presidents at will and will no longer be subject to the "the constitution firing a good president".
Museveni has twinned the end of term limits with a nationwide referendum on restoring true multi-party democracy in Uganda, which he abolished on coming to power, but critics say the July 28 vote is nothing but cover for his alleged plan to stay in power for life.