Deputy Attorney General of Uganda Mwesigwa Rukutana has today read Bill 13, The Constitution Amendment Bill 2017, that proposes acquisition of public land upon compensation. It was presented by Rukutana “for the first reading” and Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga, according to the rules of procedure, committed the bill to the …
Read More »MPs question government over Constitutional Review Commission
Kampala, Uganda | PWATCHUG| A section of Members of Parliament have tasked government to explain its delay to appoint a Constitutional Review Commission to oversee an overhaul of amendment of the constitution. Buliisa County MP, Stephen Mukitale Birahwa, while raising a matter of national importance recently, told the House that …
Read More »Benin’s defence minister quits over constitutional reform
Cotonou, Benin | AFP | Benin’s defence minister announced his resignation on Monday to protest President Patrice Talon’s plans to overhaul the constitution. Candide Armand-Marie Azannai wrote on his Facebook page that he had decided to quit because of “recent developments in this country’s politics”. Businessman Talon, who was elected last …
Read More »Gambia scraps age limit for presidential candidates
Banjul, Gambia | AFP | The Gambian parliament on Tuesday scrapped the constitutional age limit on presidential election candidates after new President Adama Barrow faced questions over his deputy’s eligibility due to her age. Anyone over 65 has been barred from running for The Gambia’s highest office under a constitutional …
Read More »Congo’s Kabila won’t change constitution to extend mandate , new deal
As Congo prepares for a general election likely to be held by the end of the year, a new deal was on Dec.30 struck by political parties for President Joseph Kabila to step down paving way for the first peaceful transition of power in the central African nation. “The government …
Read More »Ivory Coast to vote on divisive constitution
Abidjan, Ivory Coast | AFP | Ivory Coast heads to the polls Sunday for a referendum on a new constitution their president insists will heal a nation beset by violent turmoil, but which the opposition says is dangerously anti-democratic. Given that President Alassane Ouattara’s political foes have called for a …
Read More »South Korea’s Park pushes reform of single-term presidency
Seoul, South Korea | AFP | South Korean President Park Geun-Hye on Monday called for constitutional reforms that could allow future presidents to serve two terms — as she struggles with plunging popularity ratings and a widening corruption scandal. While its constitution grants enormous power to the executive, South Korea …
Read More »Age Limit motion hits snag, Ssekitoleko not granted leave
Uganda’s Parliament on Wednesday differed indefinitely a controversial motion to amend the constitution. Speaker Rebecca Kadaga ruled that Nakifuma MP Robert Kafeero Ssekitoleko was not granted leave to move a private members bill, whose intention was to lift age limits of judges and the electoral commissioners. She said the motion be deferred …
Read More »Justice minister Otafiire speaks on lifting retirement age
VIDEO: Uganda Young Democrats – the youth wing of opposition Democratic Party have petitioned the Minister of Justice and Constitution Affairs Maj. General Kahinda Otafiire- challenging the proposed constitutional amendment bills to scrap the age limits of various government officials. The youths claim the amendments are brought in bad faith and …
Read More »`The constitution shouldn’t be something we have, it should be something we are’
Francis Gimara is the newly elected President of Uganda Law Society (ULS). He spoke to The Independent’s Agnes E Nantaba about the rule of law and constitutionalism in Uganda and about his vision for ULS under his leadership. As the newly elected president of Uganda Law Society, what are your …
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