Museveni backs Abiriga’s move to draft bill extending years in office, says “5 years is just a joke”

By our reporter

President Yoweri Museveni has backed Arua Municipality MP Ibrahim Abiriga’s move to draft a bill extending terms from five to seven years for all elective offices including that of the president.

Abiriga disclosed plans to table the private members bill citing that five years are not adequate for an elected leader to implement his programmes, pledges or projects.

While meeting Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee on Tuesday at State House, Entebbe, to seek his views on the proposed amendment of Article 102(b) of the Constitution, Museveni said the leaders in Africa have much more to do and need adequate time to develop the continent and saw no harm in having longer terms.

“For these countries with all these problems, two terms of five years is just a joke. Those who talk about this are just looking at improving their CVs. We might not discuss it now but there is merit at looking at the seven years. It would give some time to these young countries to develop. France has seven-year terms, I do not see what they have lost,” said the President.

The President also dismissed the notion that the amendment was tailored to benefit him, pointing out that removal of the 35-year minimum for presidential candidates would instead give room to more young people who had been locked out to have a chance to run for the presidency.

The MPs, through Robinah Rwakoojo, the committee’s deputy chairperson, thanked President Museveni for according them audience, and indicated they would do a good job writing a report that captures all views picked from those they interfaced with.