Deputy Speaker Calls For Respect For Rule Of Law

The Deputy Speaker of Parliament has called for respect of the will of the people on how they should be governed.
He was speaking in relation to the Report of the Committee on Political Affairs on Constitutional Limits.

The report was presented at a joint meeting of the African, Caribbean and Pacific-European Union Joint Parliamentary Assembly at the EU Parliament in Brussels, Belgium.

Oulanyah says the argument that the law should be used to
stop a leader from seeking election is taking away the mandate granted by the people of that country.

He adds that the argument that sitting presidents cannot be removed through elections is also not sustainable as seen by changes in many African countries.

The Report of the Committee states that there is an emerging trend where constitutional provisions are being reversed with attempts to drop term limits in many countries.

It also cites use of a weak judiciary to creatively interpret term limits, use of the legislature to extend time in power beyond the mandated tenure and abolishing of term limits through referenda or parliament.

Story By Ivan Ssenabulya

Written by Reporter