Igara West Member of parliament, Raphael Magyezi has this afternoon presented the constitution amendment Bill, 2017 for its first reading.
Magyezi has presented the Bill this afternoon in a house largely dominated by the ruling NRM party legislators. There’s currently a boycott by members of the opposition after 24 of their colleagues were suspended. The Igara West legislator’s Bill has now been referred to the Legal and Parliamentary affairs committee for consideration.
When a Bill is brought to the house for first reading, there is no requirement for debate.
The legal committee will now decide whether to travel upcountry to seek peoples’ views on the Bill before writing the report to Parliament. The committee is required to submit its report within 45 days. Where a committee is unable to complete consideration of the Bill within the 45 days, the committee chairperson can notify the Speaker.
Magyezi’s Bill presented to Parliament this afternoon has an objective of amending the constitution of the republic of Uganda in accordance with Articles 259 and 262 of the constitution.
(a) To provide for the time within which to hold presidential, parliamentary and local government council elections under article 61.
(b) To provide for eligibility requirements for a person to be elected as president or District chairperson under articles 102 (b) and 183 (2) (b)
(c) To increase the number of days within which to file and determine a presidential election petition under article 104 (2) and (3)
(d) To increase the number of days within which the electoral commission is required to hold fresh election where a presidential election is annulled under article 104 (6) and
(e) For related matters.
