Judges are not the ones in charge of the country, says Museveni

By our reporter

President Yoweri Museveni has blamed the four judges who ruled against the 7 year term extension during last week’s age limit petition verdict that took place in Mbale Constitutional Court.

Posting on his official Facebook page, Museveni said judges should have focused on the convenience and substance of the seven years rather than procedure and form.

He said with the current five years, people in elective offices such as MPs, spend a lot of time on electioneering and less time on development; the first  two years settling in, the 3rd year some work in the constituency and, then, by the 4th year, electioneering again.

“Unfortunately, our judges in Uganda spend more time on form and not substance, on procedure and not substance. My freedom fighter’s sense of justice, in this matter (the age limit ruling) focuses more on the convenience of 7 years rather than 5 years. With the 5 years, a lot of time is spent on electioneering and less time on development; the 1st two years settling in, the 3rd year some work in the constituency and, then, by the 4th year, electioneering again,” he wrote

However, he said the judges are not the ones in charge of Uganda and if NRM MPs follow his guidelines and bond closely with people through wealth and job creation, they can together with people make the necessary constitutional reforms with judges or no judges.

“In the end, however, the judges are not the ones in charge of the country. If the NRM MPs follow my guidelines and bond closely with the people, through wealth and job creation, we can, together with the people, make the necessary Constitutional reforms, judges or no judges,” Museveni noted.

“The Constitution should facilitate the modernization of Uganda and the economic and political integration of Africa for the survival of the people of Africa as free people, not just the theatre of democracy of form without addressing substance. The Judges should have taken into consideration the recent L.C.1 and Women Councils and Committees elections which gave massive victory to the NRM, soon after the age limit and the seven years’ debate. This was more or less a referendum. There was open participation by the millions.We shall harmonise and galvanize our position. The undemocratic age limit nonsense was clear. “Nibagaya Engabo oti mwihemu abagurusi?” (How can you say old soldiers should be disqualified when everybody’s efforts are needed because the good soldiers are not enough?),” he added.