MPs to Elect President? Uganda’s Contentious Electoral Reforms
By The Public Lens
Constitutional Affairs Minister Nobert Mao has recently presented a set of electoral reforms and proposed constitutional amendments to the Ugandan cabinet, sparking a national debate.
The proposals include having Members of Parliament (MPs) elect the president, alongside the introduction of biometric electronic voting, aiming to transform the country’s electoral landscape.
The idea was first introduced by the Transformer Cadres Association, a group of National Resistance Movement (NRM) members, in January 2023, at a press conference in Kampala.
The proposal quickly gained traction, with mixed reactions from the opposition and support from NRM MPs, including Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa.
However, opposition leaders argue that this move is designed to cement President Museveni’s hold on power and undermine Ugandans’ right to directly elect their leader.
Some legal experts, such as Wandera Ogalo, endorse the proposal, suggesting that a parliamentary system of democracy could ensure a safer transition and succession of power in Uganda.
Ogalo argues that this approach would reduce the costs of organizing presidential elections and strengthen grassroots political mobilization.
Felix Adupa Ongwech, an NRM cadre and mastermind behind the proposal, has close ties with Kenyan President William Ruto and has mobilized over 1,000 NRM members who lost in the party’s 2020 primary elections.
Justice Minister Nobert Mao has confirmed receiving proposals from Adupa’s Transformer Cadres Association and acknowledged that some of these ideas have influenced the electoral reforms under consideration.
Mao indicated that Adupa and his group would interact with the Uganda Law Reform Commission and Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee if the proposals are approved.
As the debate unfolds, sources within the cabinet suggest considerable support for the proposal to have MPs elect the president.
The implications of these reforms will be far-reaching, and the public will be keenly watching the developments.
Key Proposals:
– Biometric Electronic Voting: Introducing electronic voting to enhance the electoral process.
– MPs Electing the President: Having Members of Parliament elect the president instead of direct popular vote.
– Parliamentary System of Democracy: Adopting a parliamentary system to ensure safer transition and succession of power.
