Catholic Archbishop of Kampala Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga and other members of the Uganda Joint Christian Council (UJCC) have proposed that the 2021 elections be postponed and incumbent Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni be allowed to rule for the next three years — until 2023.
As UJCC chairman, Archbishop Lwanga has revealed that a meeting of religious leaders recently discussed the current situation of holding elections during the Covid19 pandemic.
Lwanga, alongside UJCC deputy executive secretary in charge finance and administration Fr Daniel Musiitwa and deputy executive secretary in charge of programs Lois Twikirize, told reporters in Kampala on December 23 that the religious council was concerned that more lives would be lost to Coronavirus and due to electoral violence.
The clerics, therefore, resolved to push for the postponement of the 2021 elections.
The extension, they further agreed, should be there years.
That would require a constitutional amendment to authorize incumbent President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni to remain in the country’s top office until 2023.
“A few days ago, our top leadership of UJCC to which I am the current Chairman, discussed this current entire sad situation at length and we came up with a resolution that we should postpone the presidential elections for at least three years so as to allow both the Covid19 pandemic and the electoral climate to cool down and also create a favourable political and social environment which will enhance peaceful free and fair elections,” Lwanga said.
“This is a debatable proposition that we call upon the Parliament to discuss objectively. We know the constitution says if elections are postponed, the Speaker of Parliament takes over government.
“Article 259 of the Constitution allows Parliament to amend laws. We are asking Parliament to sit down and amend the constitution to allow President Museveni to continue ruling and guiding the country during the period of three year postponement of elections.”
