Uganda Resorts to Referendum for Political System

Referendum is the best way for the Ugandan people to decide on the political system the country will have after the year 2000, a parliamentary spokesman has said in Kampala on November 16.

In an interview with Xinhua Tuesday afternoon, Parliament Spokesman Kagole Kivumbi said that referendum is the fairest and most democratic way for the parties in the country to compete.

"A referendum will not put any party in a favorable or unfavorable condition," he said, adding that it is the people's constitutional right to choose their own political system.

He said the Parliament has postponed its debate on the Political Parties Bill which is said to give more freedom to other parties.

Under Uganda's Constitution enacted in 1995, no political parties are allowed to hold conferences and run for election. However, party members can run for election in his/her personal capacity.

The Constitution stipulates that a referendum should be held to decide the country's political system after the National Resistance Movement (NRM) rules for five years. It is widely expected that the NRM will win the referendum.


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