By Sekaggya Seka Moses
Kampala, Uganda – This week, Uganda’s Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Nobert Mao, will present a series of electoral reform proposals to the cabinet, chaired by President Yoweri Museveni.
Mao’s move comes as a surprise, given his history as a strong opposition leader against President Museveni’s governance since 1986.
As the leader of the Democratic Party, Mao had been a vocal critic of Museveni’s rule.
However, in 2022, Mao made a shocking decision to join forces with Museveni, accepting a ministerial position.
Mao’s decision to join Museveni’s government was reportedly driven by a desire to promote peaceful transition.
However, critics argue that his move undermined the opposition’s efforts to challenge Museveni’s rule.
According to sources, Mao’s proposals aim to introduce significant changes to Uganda’s electoral laws. Key reforms include:
- Reintroducing presidential term limits, allowing only two five-year terms, as was the law before 2005.
- Limiting presidential voting to Members of Parliament only, instead of the general public.
- Introducing term limits for woman MPs, restricting them to two terms.
These proposals come amidst President Museveni’s recent claims that opposition party NUP, led by Robert Kyagulanyi, cheated in the 2021 elections.
Museveni has been in power since 1986, and his removal of presidential term limits in 2005 has allowed him to extend his rule.
The cabinet is set to discuss Mao’s proposals this week.
The outcome will be closely watched, and The Binocular will provide updates as more information becomes available.