Parliamentary opposition leader Mathias Mpuga has warned that the 2026 elections will be regrettable if the opposition does not unite and fight for reforms to the current 1995 constitution.
Councilor Nyendo-Mukungwe, who made these revelations a few days ago during the African Institute of Investigative Journalism’s online interview program titled “The Dilemma” revealed that Uganda’s current law books are useless and do not help solve the problem. Solve any problem that benefits ordinary Ugandans.
He noted that it would be prudent for Ugandans to contest the 2026 general elections with a new constitution as the country is currently working with a mutilated document that has been shredded and overshadowed by the interests of one man, at the expense of interests of the majority of Ugandans.
“The current constitution is premised on a two-term presidential term, and you are now president for life. The framers of the constitution never envisioned a strong president appointing everyone, usurping all power. It was a decentralized system before, we are now Is it a decentralized system, is this the same constitution?” he asked.
Mpuga believes that discussions on the new constitution will now enter an intensifying phase because it will be a waste of time for the opposition if Uganda goes to the 2026 polls with the current legal manual in place.
“It would be the most unfortunate thing for the opposition to go to the polls with the same document!! Same shape as the Electoral Commission! Remember we are not practicing democracy, we are under the power of gun rule, to keep you To be able to get back into compliance with gun rules, you have to force some reforms so you can empower people,” he said.
Mpuga said it was the responsibility of all opposition members to push for constitutional reform as early as possible. He also noted that he believed it was untenable to wait for a constitutional review by the government. The government has been trying to initiate constitutional and electoral reforms for the past three years without success.
Initiatives for constitutional reform began some years ago, when the Hon. Wilfred Niwagaba sponsored the Constitution (Amendment) Bill. However, Mpuga said the process was thwarted, paving the way for the government process.
Mpuga believes that the opposition within and outside parliament need to find the necessary drive and momentum to make these areas of reform a rallying point for the country as a whole and all stakeholders in Uganda’s democratic process.
He also believes that all stakeholders in Uganda such as traditional and non-traditional leaders must be involved in this dialogue. It should be a matter of public obligation and burden, like most other civic duties, rather than the preserve of politicians and their traditional allies.
At the same time, the current constitution is the fourth since 1962. Uganda’s 1995 Constitution, promulgated on October 8, 1995, restored all traditional monarchies except the Kingdom of Ankole, but limited the powers of the Ugandan monarch to cultural matters.
However, it has since been amended to remove presidential term limits and the age limit clause, paving the way for a lifetime president.
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