Bishop Ssemogerere demands for gov’t stand on the proposal to have the president elected by Parliament

By Jjunju Francis

20^th Jan 2022

The Archbishop elect of Kampala Archdiocese Rt. Rev. Paul Ssemogerere has challenged government to be bold and tell the country its stand on the alleged constitutional amendments to have the President elected by only parliament as an electoral college.

A group calling its self Transformer Carders Association on January 6^th 2022 while in a press briefing at Kati Kati in Lugogo Kampala led by the former MP for Kioga Felix Aupa Ongwech called for the amendments within the presidential elections Act to have the president elected by Parliament rather than the adult suffrage.

They contend that if the election is held by members of parliament it will eliminate allegations of bribery and intimidation during elections, vote rigging, save tax payers’ money and time.

Such accusations have always ended up in the Supreme Court where the challenging candidates to the NRM party candidate President Yoweri Museveni who has been in power since 1986, have ended up not getting what they wanted that is overturning the election. Court pronouncement has always been, “Lack of Substantial Evidence” to warrant overturning of the election.

Bishop Ssemogerere says the reasons advanced to have the president elected by parliament must be given ample time for discussion and above all it should not be brought in bad interest.

He insists the point cannot be undermined since it denies Ugandans their right from electing a president of their choice.

Uganda has seen amendments in what many call crucial areas of the constitution, the lifting of the term limits in 2005, the lifting of the age cup article 102 b in 2017 and now the alleged closing of the presidential election to only members of parliament.