Buganda Constitutional Proposals 1991

 

Ssabasajja Ssabataka’s

Supreme Council,

P.O.Box 7451,

Kampala.

30th August 1991.

 

To: The chairman,

Uganda Constitution Commission,

P.O.Box 7206,

Kampala

 

Dear Mr. Justice B.J.Odoki,

 

We are forwarding to you the Buganda Constitutional Proposals, consisting of the main proposal and a summary of them, the latter being both in English and Luganda. 

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

______________________                                                             ____________________________

Owek. JOSEPH P MUSOKE                                                               OMUTAKA KIBAALE NADUULI

Chairman and member                                                                         Chairman, Head of Clans’Council

Ssebasajja ssabataka’s                                                                       and member, ssabasajja ssabataka’s

Supreme Council.                                                                                  Supreme Council.

 

 

_________________________                                                      ____________________________ _

Owek. Prof. APOLLO NSIBANBI                                                   Owek. HAJI MOHAMMED KATEREGGA

Overall chairman, Joint constitutional committee                     NAMUGUZI Chairman, Bataka/Bazzukulu

 And member, ssabasajja’s supreme                                          Constitutional Committee and Member                                        

Council                                                                                       Ssabasajja Ssebataka’s Supreme Council.

 

 

_____________________________                                            __________________________________

Omulangira REV.DAN S.K. KAJUNBA                                           HAJI KASSIM MALE MABIRIZI

Secretary General and Member,                                                         Secretary, Head of Clans’

Ssabasajja Ssabataka’s Supreme                                                       Council

Council, and Member, constitutional

Committee.

 

 

                                                                ___________________________________

                                                                   Owek.JOHN W.KATENDE

                                                                   Legal Advisor and Member,

                                                                   Ssabasajja Ssabataka’s Supreme

                                                                   Council, Member Constitutional

                                                                   Committee.

 

The Honorable Chairman and member of the Constitution Committee.We have the honor and privilege  to present views of Buganda as an entity on the projected new constitution for Uganda.

 

Background.       

 

The view are contained in three document which are accompanied by a listed mass of written memoranda from all those who cared and were able to present their opinion in writing to the committees set up for that purpose.

 

Unwritten testimony was also received from numerous persons and all these have been taken into account in the presentation we are making to you.

 

The Buganda traditional society and body politic is stratified into these segments namely, the Kabaka together with the Royalty (Kabaka n’Abalangira), the Chiefs and the bataka (Abaami n’Abataka) and the commonalty (Abakopi); the most impontant segment politically being that of the commonalty who at all times have had the clout to dictate the structure, policies, changes and nature of Government ,With powers to decide who to accept or not to accept  as Kabaka or Chief, and to make representation as to the governance they require of Buganda. By and large the commonalty spoke through the chiefs and national assembly, the Lukikko, except where populist movements from time to time forced matters if the chiefs proved antagonistic as the 1945 and 1949, up heavals would show. In such situations the wrath of the commonalty would be wrecked on the incumbent individuals but not on there offices. Similarly, Buganda history is replete with stories of one Kabaka who was against the wishes and welfare of the people being deposed and replaced with another one but leaving the offices in act. The lesson to be drawn in this is that Buganda holds this political and social structure as sacrosanct despite continued social and political changes in the powers and privileges, which people, the commonalty, come with time. Further, that it is the voice of the people, the commonalty which determines the governance and control of Buganda political and social institutions including Kabakaship, grant authority and privileges or circumscribe such authority and privileges. The document we present to you  reflects these sentiments, strongly emphasized by the entire spectrum of the proponent  who presented there views men and women from all walks of life and all levels of social strata from the rich and poor, learned and the unlearned, the lowly and the might, the political activities and the politician, the religious faithful and the animist  even the atheists the views contained in this document presented are not necessarily the same views held by the individual members of the committee or delegation  appointed to present them. They are a summary of a democratic expression of the people of Buganda irrespectively of their station in life. Their views have been taken into account.

The final document is a consensus of opinion from three committee on the subject, each of which worked independently but meets at the end to put the collected views together. The three committees are as mentioned in the introduction :

(a)                 the Abataka constitutional committee;

(b)                 the Abazzukulu ba Buganda constitutional committee;

(c)                 the constitutional committee of Ssabataka’sSupreme Council. The selection and composition of these committee represent the said three segments of the Buganda Social fabrics and the views contained in the documents presented reflects the consensus of these segments.

We must point out that there was near unanimity of view on the spirit and principle enshrined in the 1962 constitution.  We have endeavored to incorporate this spirit and principle in the document we have presented.

 

We have been given this message that the people of Buganda deplore the abrogation of the 1962 constitution. They hope however, that if the spirit and principles of that constitution are incorporated in the new constitution, Buganda will happily take her place and play her role together with the other nationalities in unity and concord for the benefit of all people of Uganda.

 

Drafting and promulgation of the constitution

 

The consensus from Buganda as expressed to the committee is that the drafting and promulgation of the new constitution as the political act must be as the representative body directly elected by the people for the purpose. It is felt that it is for the people to give themselves the constitution. That the Government of the day being only a part of the people should accept the will of the people for whose governance the constitution id promulgated.

It is therefore proposed:

(One)         that for this purpose constituency  be demarcated and every one hundred thousand voters or as near that figure

                 as is practically possible elect their representatives to the constituent Assembly.

(Two)        that the election to the constituent Assembly be on non-party basis;

(Three)     that a constituency, if they so wish, may elect any body of their choice whether  such persons has a permanent home in the constituency or not;

(Four)        that where a member of the NRC is elected he shall devote his time and energy to service of the constituency in the constitution making process to preference of the NRC  business;

(Five)         that besides the directly elected members, the following group and institution be represented on the constitutional Assembly body elected or nominated and accredited by such organizations;

(a)                 The armed forces,5

(b)                 The political parties which participated in the 1980 election, 2 each

The religious groups namely, the catholic church, the church of Uganda, the Muslim supreme council, the othordox church , and fellowship of rest of the congregation of churches registered as non- governmental organizations, grouped together for th epurpose of  the constitution making process.

 

(Six)             That the constituent assemble be presided over by the chief Justice or a serving or retired Judge of that status or standing not having constitutional commission.

(Seven)    That the constitutional commission on completion of their present assignment be reconstituted as the secretariat of the constituent assembly.

 

It will be recalled that for reasons it is not necessary to mention here, the Bataka  had refused to submit their views to the commission. His Excellency the President graciously agreed to meet them and the Bataka were given assurance, which underpinned the spirit of their constitutional proposals we submit. It should not be considered that their views subsequently submitted and blended together with others in the document presented are the result of hurried and hastily assembled and half-backed opinions of the Bataka segment. The contrary is the case. The Bataka views are a result of over one year of consultation among the Bataka hierarchy, which spread the length, and breadth of Buganda. The reconsider refusal to submit their views had been a supervening events whose hurdles, they were assured, had been removed and no longer existed.

 

On behalf of all those whose views are reflected in the documents, presented, on behalf of the Ssabasajja Ssabataka and on the behalf of Buganda. WE HAVE THE HONOR TO PRESENT the draft constitutional proposal and profoundly thanks your lordship, the chairman, your esteemed members of the commission and above all His Excellency the President, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the National Resistance Movement to allow the people of Buganda individually and as a national entity to present their views on the proposed Constitution.

 

May God attend all those endeavors with His bountiful blessings.

For God and my Country.

 

INTRODUCTION

The two documents that are being submitted to the constitutional Commission do not merely consist of the ideas of the Ssabasajja Ssabataka’s Supreme Council and the Buganda Bataka  heads of clans’ council, but are a product of ideas, views and memoranda collected from all parts of Buganda during a period of over one year.

 

This exercise was initially undertaken by the joint Bataka and Bazzukulu constitutional committee headed by the Omutaka Haji M Katerega Namaguzi. The collected memoranda which are attached to these documents and are to be presented to the Uganda Constitutional Commission. With the appointment of Ssebataka’s supreme council, and additional council, an additional constitutional sub-committee was appointed which was joined Haji Katerega’s original committee.The joint Committee was under the overall chairmanship of  Prof. Nsibambi of the political Science Department, Makerere University. The document were finally put together by the legal adviser to Ssabataka’s supreme council assisted by a group of lawyers.

 

The collected views, ideas and memoranda were studied, considered and finally complied into two documents which are divided into the following four parts:

1.          Summary of proposal

    For ease of reference, a summary of the proposal contained in the main constitutional proposals is submitted.

   

    This summary seeks to highlight novel constitutional proposals and those that defer from the current constitution.

Further, this summary briefly set out reasons for the various proposals set out in the main constitution. Most os these proposal changes are not new. They are derived from 1962 constitution and are incorporated as a result of views and memoranda received from the people. Others are new proposals, which were also obtained from the people during the Bataka/Bazzukulu constitutional committee in the exercise of collecting views and memorandum on the new constitution. 

2.    Main constitutional Proposals.

This is a document that embodies the formal expression of the PROPOSAL OF WHAT THE BAGANDA WOULD LIKE THE CONSTITUTION OF UGANDA TO BE. It is comprehensively drafted as a constitution comprising all major aspects of the modern constitution ranging from the proposals on citizenship to form a government, from fundamental rights to the presidency; from the regislative process to form the structure of the judiciary; from the structure of the Federal status of the Government Revenue and expenditure; from public services to public and Mailo land.

 

This document is drafted in legal language to minimize ambiguity and obscurantism, so as to clarify the intention and proposal of the Buganda.

 

3.Explanatory Notes 

 The end of the main constitutional proposals, explanatory notes are included.

These seek to draw attention to provision that have been changed and those that have been saved and the reasons therefor.

4.Memoranda

Memoranda collected by the joint Bataka and Bazzukulu constitutional committee in the course of preparation of the main constitutional commission an authentic and original form of the written ideas obtained from the people.

Dated 30th August 1991.

 

THE CONSTITUTION OF UGANDA

 

ARRANGEMENT OF ARTICLES

 

CHAPTER 1

ARTICLE

1. Constitution to be supreme Law.

2. Federal Government.

3. Constitution Traditional Leaders.

4.Alteration of the Constitution.

 

CHAPTER II

CITIZENSHIP

5.Citizen of Uganda.

6.Powers of Parliament.

7.Dual Citizenship.

8.Preferential treatment of citizens of other Countries.

 

CHAPTER III

 

PROTACTION OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOM OF THE INDIVIDIAL

9. Fundamental rights and freedom of the individual.

10. Protection of rights to life.

11.Protection to slavery and forced labour.

13.Protection from inhuman treatment.

14.Protection of deprivation  of property.

15. Protection for privacy of homes and other property.

16. Provisions  to secure protection of law.

17. Protection  of freedom of conscience.

18. Protection of  freedom of expression.

19. Protection of freedom of assembly.

20. Protection of freedom of cultural association.

21. Protection of freedom of movement.

22. Protection from discrimination on grounds of race.

23. Provision for times for war or public provision .

24.provision for a  state of insurgency.

25. Enforcement of protective provision.

26. Interpretation and savings.

 

CHAPTER IV

 

THE EXECUTIVE.

Part 1-The President and Vice President.

27. President of Uganda.

28. Qualifications for the President.

29. Election for the President.

30. Determination for Questions as to election of the President

31.Oath to be taken by the President.

32. Assumption and tenure of the President.

33. Removal and impeachment of the President.

34. Vice President.

 

Part II- MINISTER AND CABINET.

35.Presidential powers to appoint Ministers.Functions.

36. Functions of Ministers, Ministers of State and Deputy Ministers.

37.Attorny General.

38. Oaths to be taken by Ministers etc.

39. Cabinet.

40. Meeting of Cabinets.

 

Part III FEDERAL STATE GOVERNMENTS

41. Structure of federal State Government and their Government.

CHAPTER V

       Part1 PARLIAMENT.

42.Composition of Parliament.

43.Federal State Councils and Sub-state councils.

44. Qualifications for Membership of Parliament.

45.Disqualification for Membership of Parliament.

46. Speaker.

47. Deputy Speaker .

48. Election of elected members.

49. Election of State Councils.

50. Qualification of Voters.

51. Electoral commission.

52. Constituencies.

53. Nomination of Presidential Nominees.

54. Tenure of Office of Members of Parliament.

55. Determination of Questions to the Membership of Parliament.

56.Clerk to Parliament and his Stuff.

 

Part II- PROCEDURE IN PARLIAMENT

       57.Oaths to be taken by a member of Parliament.

       58. Presiding in Parliament.

       59. Quorum in Parliament.

       60. Voting in Parliament.

       61. Unqualified person sitting or voting.

       62. Mode of exercising legislative power.

       63.Presidential powers of Veto.

        64 Regulation of procedure in Parliament.

Part III- SUMMONING, PROROGATION AND DISSOLUTION

       65.Sessions of Parliament.

       66. Prorogation and dissolution of Parliament.

CHAPTER VI

LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE POWERS

Part I –LEGISLATIVE POWERS.

67.Legislative and Executive Power.

68. Supremacy of Parliament

69. Legislative Powers of the President.

Part II- ADMINISTRATIVE RELATIONS

70 Exercise of Executive Powers in Federal State.

71 Supremacy of the central Government

72. Executive Powers of Uganda.

73 Permanent Secretaries.

74. Police forces.

75. Control of Police forces.

76. Tenure of office of Auditor-General and Inspector General of Government.

77. Director of Public Prosecution.

78 Qualification of Director of Public Prosecution

79 Prerogative of Mercy.

80 Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy

81 Functions of Advisory Committee.

82 Power of President to make treaties, appointments etc.

83. Declaration of War.

84 Commander of Armed forces.

85 Exercise of President Function.

CHAPTER VII

ADMINISTRATION OF FEDERAL STATES.

86. Administration of Federal States.

87. Disagreements between Central Government and Federal Governments.

 

CHAPTER VIII

THE JUDICATURE

Part I- THE HIGH COURT OF UGANDA

88. High Court of Uganda.

89. Appointments of Judges of High Court of Uganda.

90.Tenure of Office of Judges.

91. Oaths to be taken by Judges.

92.Principle Judge to head High Court.

93.Questions as to the interpretation by the constitution.

94.Early hearing of constitution and election case.

Part II- THE SUPREME COURT OF UGANDA

95. Supreme court of Uganda.

96.Appointment of Judges of the Supreme Court.

97. Tenure of Office.

98.Oaths to be taken by Judges of the Supreme Court.

99. Composition of the Supreme Court of Uganda.

100. Administrative Functions of the Chief Justice and Deputy Chief Justice.

 

Part I JUDICIAL IAL SERVICE COMMISSION.

101. Judicial Service Commission.

102. Appointments etc of Judicial Officers.

 

CHAPTER IX

Part I-FINANCE.

103. Source of funds and revenue for the central and federal States.

104. Consolidated funds.

105. Withdrawal from the consolidated fund.

106. Authorization of expenditure in advance of appropriation.

107. Contingencies find.

108. Remuneration of certain officers.

109.Public Debt.

111. Auditor General.

 

Part II- FINANCIAL PROVITIONS FOR THE FEDERAL STATES. 

112. Grants from the central Government to federal states.

113.Grants to be charged on the consolidated funds.

114. Collection of Revenue of Federal states.

 

CHAPTER X

THE PUBLIC SERVICES OF UGANDA.

 

115.Public Service Commission.

116. Teaching Service Commission.

117. District Service Committee.

118. Appointments etc of public officers.

119. Appointments etc, of Representative of Uganda abroad.

120. Protection of Pension rights.

121. Power of appropriate Authority in relation to pension etc.

 

CHAPTER XI

PUBLIC LAND

 

122. Land commission.

123. Interpretation.

 

CHAPTER XII

THE UGANDA ARMY

 

124. Army to be known as Uganda.

125. Army to be Propionate to population of federal States.

126.Code of conduct of the Uganda Army.

 

CHAPTER XIII

GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS

 

127. Capital of Uganda.

128. Official and National Languages.

129. President of Constitutional Traditional Language.

130. Privilege of Constitutional Language Leaders.

131.Privalageof members of federal state Council.

132. Local Government Councils in Federal states.

134. Resignation.

135. Re-Appointments and concurrent appointments.

136.Existing Law.

137.Existing Offices.

138.Oaths deemed to have been taken.

139. Pending matters.

140. Succession to property.

141. Succession to contracts.

142. Vesting of other Rights.

143. Legal proceedings.

144. International Agreements.

145. Mailo land.

146.Compalsory Retirements to facilitate appointments of local candidates.

147.Appeal Board.

148. Cessation of constitution of September 1967.

149. Interpretation.

 

SCHEDULES

Schedule I – Federal States of Uganda.

Schedule II –Central Government List.

Schedule III –Concurrent List.

Schedule IV –Federal State List.

Schedule V –Sources of Revenue for Federal States.

Schedule VI –The Boundary of Uganda.

 

EXPLANATORY NOTES.

 

 

THE CONSTITUTION OF UGANDA

 

CHAPTER

 

THE FEDERATON OF UGANDA.

  1.CONSTITUTION TO BE SUPREME LAW

            1)     This Constitution is the Supreme Law of Uganda.

        2)     Subject to the provision of article 4, if any other Law is inconsistency with the constitution, this constitution shall prevail and the other law                   

                shall, to the existence of the inconsistency, be void.

  2.FEDERAL  GOVERNMENT

1)       Uganda shall have a federal form of government.

2)       The Federal of Uganda shall consist of:

One)           Federal states;

Two)          The territory of Kampala.

3)       The particulars of Federal Government States as well as the territory of Kampala are more particularly delineated  in Schedule I to this    

constitution.

  3.CONSTITUTIONAL TRADITIONAL LEADERS

1)       There shall be Constitutional Traditional Leaders for these Federal States, which may want them.

2)       The status and title of the constitutional traditional leaders shall be decided upon by the federal state, which have them and are hereby recognized by the constitution.

3)                       (i)            The people of the federal state concerned shall bear the cost of maintenance  and keep-up of their constitution traditional      

leaders as well as for any institution attached thereto.

 

(ii)           the indigenous people of the federal state nor those from outside the federal state may be compelled to adhere to   traditions and/   or cultural practices of that area or federal state, nor may they be compelled to pay allegiance to the constitutional traditional leaders.

(c)                 The decision whether or not to remunerate close relatives of the constitutional traditional leaders shall be exclusively decided by the federal state concerned.

     4)                        (i)            A constitutional traditional leader may not join central government, politics nor take up office in the central government.

                               

(b)                 A constitutional traditional leader who opts to join central government politics or take up an office in the central government shall first renounce his title and shall automatically forfeit all benefits and privilege of a constitutional traditional leader.

(c)                 Any relatives of constitutional leader who is numerated by his local area or federal state who decides to  engage into active central government politics shall automatically forfeit all the remuneration he is entitled to as a relative of the constitutional traditional leader but shall not have to renounce his title or other non-monitory privileges.

    5)         The election and qualification of a constitutional traditional leader as well as dismissal of a constitutional traditional leader shall depend entirely on the tradition and culture heritage or practice of the people of the federal state concerned.

6)             The power and role of constitutional traditional leader as be sure as the federal state may determine.

7)             Any cultural dispute between a constitutional traditional leader and his people shall be mediated by the cultural machinery of the federal state concerned.

8)             (i) In the event of disagreement  between a constitutional traditional leader and a central government the same shall be referred to a standing mediation committee to arbitrate on the issue so agreed upon.

(ii) The mediation committee shall be composed of;

(One)         two persons appointed by the governor of the federal state  from which the concerned constitutional traditional leader hails.

(Two)        Two persons appointed by the central government;

(Three)     One neutral member elected jointly by the four affronted appointees to form a fifth member of the chairman of the mediation committee.

(d)                 The decision of the committee shall be binding, shall have the same force of law as a high court judgement and shall be final.

4)       ALTERATION OF CONSTITUTION

(1)     Subject to the provision of this article, parliament may alter any of the provisions of this constitution.

(2)     Subject to the provisions of clause (3)of this article, no amendment of the constitution shall be effective unless;                           (a) it has been supported on the second and third readings in Parliament by the votes of at least two thirds majority of all members of the parliament.

(b) It id supported by a simple majority of at least eight of the fourteen federal states.

3)Any amendment to the constitution under this article so far as it provides for an alteration to any provisions of chapter I, II or III or articles 33, 40, 41(4), 42, 43, 46, 49, 59, 82, 83, 84 (2), 85, 90,103, 112, 113, 127, 129, 130, 140, and 145 of this constitution or any provision of schedule I, II, IV or V to this constitution shall not be effective unless it has been supported on the second and third readings by the votes of not less than two thirds of all members of parliament and a simply majority in all federal state councils.

Provision that were such amendment affects the parliament institution of a federal state or the position, rights, or privilege of the constitutional traditional leader, the amendment shall not be effective except with the third majority of the federal state concerned, in addition with all the other requirements of this clause.

4) A motion for altering the constitution may originate either in parliament or in a federal council.

5)       (a) The president shall not signify his assent to any amendment to the constitution under this article unless the amendment is accompanied by the certificate of the speaker signed by him certifying that the amendment has been supported in parliament as required by this article and traditional certificate signed by the persons presiding over each of the relevant federal state council required under clause 2 and 3 hereof.

(b) The certificate referred to in this clause shall be conclusive evidence of the fact so certified.

(Four)        In this article, referees to any of the provision of this constitution include reference to any law, or any instrument made under a law not amends,

modifies, re-enacts with or without amendment or modification or makes different provisions in lieu of that provision.

 

CHAPTER II

CITIZENSHIP II

5. CITIZEN OF UGANDA

                (1) The following persons shall be citizens of Uganda, that is to say:

(One)            Every person who on the commencement of this constitution is a citizen of Uganda.

(Two)           Every person born in Uganda after the commencement of this constitution one of whose parents or grandparents is or was a citizen of Uganda.

(Three)        Every person born outside Uganda after the commencement of this constitution one of whose parents or grandparents is or was a citizen of Uganda provided that his father was a citizen of Uganda otherwise than by virtue or this paragraph at the time of the person’s birth or in case of the father’s death before that persons birth, at the time of the father’s death;

(Four)           Every person lawfully registers as a citizen of Uganda after the commencement of this constitution. 

(2) Any person being a minor whose father acquired citizenship by virtue of the provision of paragraph (d) of clause (1) of this article after the

Coming into forces of this constitution shall by virtue of that acquisition to be a citizen of Uganda.

(3)     The provision of immediate proceeding  clause shall apply to any person being a minor, who at the coming into force of the constitution is a person whose father  acquired citizenship of Uganda by registration under the law then in force.

(4)     The following persons, if not citizen of Uganda, shall be entitled to be register  as citizen of Uganda upon making application in such manners as may be prescribed by Parliament, that is to say;

(One)         Any woman who is at any time has been married to a citizen of Uganda.

(Two)        Any woman who as at any time married to a person who but for his death before 9th October 1962, would have become a citizen of Uganda on that date.

(5)     for the purpose of this chapter, a person born abroad a registered ship or air craft or abroad an unregistered  ship or air craft of any country shall be deemed to have been born in the place which the ship or air craft was register or as the case may be in that country.

(6)     POWERS OF PARLIAMENT.

(1)     Parliament may make provision for the acquisition of citizenship of Uganda by persons who are eligible or who are no longer eligible to become citizens of Uganda under the provision of this chapter.

(2)     Parliament may make provision for depriving of his citizen of Uganda otherwise than by virtue of his birth.

(3)     Parliament may make provision for renunciation any person of his citizenship of Uganda.

 

 

DUAL CITIZENSHIP.

(1)     Any person who, upon the attainment of the age of twenty one years, is a citizen of Uganda and also a citizen of some country other than Uganda shall, subject to clause (5) of this article, cease to be a citizen of Uganda upon attaining the age of twenty two years unless he has renounced his citizenship of that other country, taken the oath of allegiance and, in the case of a person born outside Uganda, made and registered such declaration of his intentions concerning residence as may be prescribed by parliament.

(2)      A citizen of Uganda shall cease to be such a citizen if,

(One)         Having attained the age of twenty-one years, he otherwise acquires the citizenship of some other county other than Uganda by voluntary act, other than marriage; or

(Two)        Having attained the age of twenty-one years, he other wise requires the citizen of some other country other than Uganda and has not, within one year of acquiring that citizenship, renounced that citizenship, taken the oaths of allegiance and made and register such declaration of his attention concerning residence as may be prescribed by parliament.

 

(3)     A person who,

(a)      becomes a citizen of Uganda by registration  under article 5; and

(b)     is immediately after the day upon which he becomes a citizen of Uganda and also a citizen of some other country, shall subject to clause                                  of this article, ceases to be a citizen of Uganda at an expiration of three months after that day unless he ahs renounced the citizenship of that other

                        country, taken the oaths of allegiance, and made and registered  such declaration of his intention concerning residence as may be

                        prescribed by parliament.

(4)     For the purpose of this article, where under the Law of a country, other than Uganda, a person can not renounce his citizenship of that other country, he need not make such renouncements but he  may instead be requir3ed to make such declaration concerning that citizenship may be prescribed by   parliament.

(5)     Provision may be made by or under an Act for parliament for extending the period in which any person may make a renunciation of citizenship, take an oath or make or register  a declaration for the purpose of this article, and if such provision is made that person shall cease to be a citizen of Uganda only if at the expiration of the extended period he has not then made the renunciation, taken the oath or made registered the declaration, as the case may be.

 

8. PREFERANCIAL TREATMENT OF CITIZENS OF OTHER COUNTRIES

Parliament may make provision for according preferential treatment to citizen of commonwealth country or any other country which is a member of any International Organization of which Uganda is a member or with which Uganda is in association, on reciprocal basis.

 

CHAPTER III

 

PROTECTION OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS 12

AND FREEDOMS OF THE INDIVIDIAL

                9. FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOM OF THE INDIVIDIAL

(1)     Every person in Uganda shall enjoy the fundamental rights and freedom of the individual, that is to say, the rights to each and all of the following, namely;

(One)         Life, Liberty, security of the person and protection of the law;

(Two)        Subject to article 48 (3) of this constitution, freedom of conscience, of expression and assembly and association.

(Three)     Protection of the privacy of his home and other property without compensation, and

(2)     Freedom of cultural association, belonging to traditional association, or cultural institutions and indulging in cultural activities and practices. 

(3)     In the enjoyments of the rights and freedom referred to in clause (1) and (2) of this article, no person shall prejudice the rights and freedoms on others of public interest.  

(4)     The provision of this article shall have effect subject to the limitation contained in this chapter.

 

10    PROTECTION OF RIGHTS TO LIFE 

(1)     No person shall be deprived of his life intentionally save in execution of the sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence under the law of Uganda of which he has been convicted.

(2)     Without prejudice to any liability for the contravention of any other law with respect to the use of force in such cases as are hereinafter  mention a person shall not be regarded as having deprived of his life in contravention of this article if he dies as the result of use of force to such extent as in reasonable justifiable in the circumstance of such cases,

 

(One)         For the evidence of any person from violence or for the defense of property.

(Two)        In order to effect the lawful arrest or to prevent the escape of a person lawfully detained.

(Three)     For the purpose of suppressing a riot, insurrection or mutiny.

(Four)        In order to prevent the commission by that person of a criminal offence; or if he dies as a result of a lawful act of war.

 

11. PROTECTION OF RIGHT TO PERSONAL LIBERTY

(1)     No person shall be deprived of his personal liberty save as may be authorized by the in any of the following cases:

(One)         In execution of the sentence or order of a court whether established for Uganda or some other country,  in respect of a criminal offence of which he has been convicted.

(Two)        In execution of the order of the court punishing or contempt of that court or of the court inferior to it;

(Three)     In execution of the order of a court to secure the fulfillment of any obligation imposed on him by law.

(Four)        For the purpose of bringing him before court in execution of the order of a court;

(Five)         Upon reasonable suspicion of having  committed, or being about to commit, a criminal offence under the law of Uganda;

(Six) In the case of a person who has not attained the age of eighteen years, for the purpose of his education of welfare;

(Seven)    For the purpose of preventing the spread of an infectious or contagious diseases;

(Eight)      In the case of a person who is, or is reasonable suspected to be, of unsound mind, addicted to drugs or alcohol, or a vagrant, for the purpose of his care or treatment or the protection of the community;

(Nine)        For the purpose of preventing the unlawful entry of that person into Uganda, or for the purpose of affecting the expulsion, extradition or other lawful removal of that person while he is being conveyed through Uganda in the course of his extradition or removal as a convicted prisoner from one country to another;

(Ten)          For the purpose of making, varying, discharging or enforcing an order providing for the detention of any person or restriction of any person to any residence or area within Uganda or for prohibiting him from being  within such area or for restricting his possession of specified article or his association and communication with other persons or for requiring him to notify his movement to any specified authority or imposing conditions reasonably necessarily for the purpose of enforcing any such detention, restriction, prohibition or requirement;

(Eleven)  For the purpose of restraining any person during any visit that he is permitted to make to any part of Uganda in which his presence would otherwise be unlawful.

(2)     Any person who is arrested, detained or restricted shall be informed as soon as reasonably practicable, in a language that he understands, of the reason for his arrest, detention or restriction. 

(3)     Any person who is arrested or detained,

(One)         for the purpose of bringing him before a court in execution of the order of the court, or

(Two)        Upon reasonable suspicion of his having committed or being about to commit, a criminal offence under the law of Uganda, and who is not released, shall be brought without undue delay before a court, and if any person arrested or detained as mentioned in paragraph (b) of this clause is not tried with in reasonable time, then without prejudice to any further proceeding that may be brought against him he shall be released, either unconditionally or upon reasonable conditions including in particular such conditions as are reasonably necessary to ensure that he appears at the later date for trial or for proceeding preliminary to a trial.

(4)     Any person who is unlawfully arrested or detained by any other person shall be entitle to compensation therefore from that other person.

(5)     Where a person is detained or restricted by virtue of such law as referred to in paragraph (j) of clause (1) of this article or of paragraph (c)  of clause (3) of article 21 of this constitution, the following provisions shall apply, that is to say:

(One)         he shall not, not more than twenty-eight days after the commencement of this detention or restriction , be  furnished with a statement in writing in a language that he understands specifying the grounds upon which he is detained or restricted and shall be afforded an opportunity of making representation in writing to the authority by which his detention or restriction was ordered.

(Two)        His case shall be reviewed by an independent impartial tribunal established by law and presided over by a person appointed by the chief justice, and such reviews shall be held: 

(i) As soon as reasonably practicable where the person detained or restricted has made representations to the authority by which his detention was ordered; or

(ii) In any other case not more than two months after the commencement of his detention or restriction, and thereafter during his detention or restriction, at intervals or not more than six months; provided parliament shall be reviewed by a sub-committee of parliament set up for that purpose.

(Three)     he shall be afforded reasonable facilities to consult, at his own expense, a legal representative to the tribunal.

(Four)        At the hearing of his case by the tribunal he shall be permitted to appear in person or, at his own expense, by a legal representative of his own choice;

(Five)         The tribunal may make recommendation concerning the necessity or expediency of continuing the detention or restriction, or the modification of any conditions attending thereto on any grounds including ill-health and good behavior, to the authority by which the detention or restriction was ordered.

(Six)   If on the expiry of two consecutive years of the person’s said continued detention, the person is not duly charged on a court of law, the said person’s detention shall automatically cease, and the said person shall be deemed acquitted.

(Seven)    A person so acquitted shall not be re- detained except with the express decision of parliament, or unless he is charged with an offence in a court of law.

(6)     Where a person is detained by virtue of such law referred to in clause (5) of article 23 of this constitution and when the declaration of the state of the public emergency ceases to have effect, is further detained by virtue of such law as is referred to in paragraph (j) or clause (i) of this article or of clause (3) of article 21 of this constitution, the provisions of sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii) of paragraph (b) of clause (5) of this article shall not apply in respect of such persons.

(7)     Unless it is otherwise provided by law, the authority to which recommendations are made pursuant to the provision of paragraph of clause (5) of this article shall not be obliged to act in accordance with any such recommendations.

(8)     No order made under such laws as is referred to in paragraph (j) or clause (1) of this article shall be questioned in any court.

 

12      PROTECTION FROM SLAVETY AND FORCED LABOUR

(1)     No person shall be held in slavery or servitude.

(2)     No person shall be required to perform forced labour.

(3)     For the purpose of this article, the expression “forced labour” does not include;

 

(One)         Any labour required in consequence of the sentence or order of the court.

(Two)        Labour required of any person while he is lawfully detained which, though not required in consequence of the sentence or order of the court, is reasonable necessity in the interest of hygiene or for the maintenance of the place at which he is detained.

(Three)     Any labour required of a member of the disciplined forces in pursuance of his duty as such as or in the case of a person who has conscientious objections to serve as a member of a naval, military or air force, any labour which that person is required by law to perform in place of such service;

(Four)        Any labour required during any period when Uganda is in war or in the event of any emergency or calamities which threatens the life and well-being  of the community, to the extent that the requiring of such labour is reasonably unjustifiable in the circumstances or any situation arising or existing during that period or as a result of such emergency or calamity, for the purpose of dealing with that situation; or

(Five)         Any labour reasonably required as part of reasonable and normal communal or other civic obligations.

 

13. PROTECTION FROM IN HUMAN TREATMENTS. 

(1)     No person shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading punishment or other like treatment.

(2)     Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of this article to the extent that the law in question authorizes the infliction of any punishment that was lawful in Uganda immediately before 9th October 1962.

 

14. PROTECTION FROM DEPRIVATION OF PROPERTY

(1)     No property of any description shall be compulsory taken possession of, and no interest in or right over property of any description shall be compulsory acquired, except where the following conditions are satisfied that is to say;

(One)         The taking of possessions or acquisition is necessary to the interest of defense, public safety, public order, public morality, public health, town and country planning or the  development or utilization or of ant property in such manners as to promote the public benefit; and

(Two)        The necessity therefore is such as to afford reasonably justification for the causing of any hardship that may result to any person having an interest in or right over the property; and

(Three)     Provision is made by law applicable to that taking of possession or acquisition,

(i) for the payment of prompt and adequate compensation; and

               (ii) securing to any person having an interest in or right over the property a right of access to the high court, where direct or on appeal from any             other authority, for the determination of his interest or rights, the legality of the taking of possession or acquisition of the  property, interest of right and the amount of any compensation to which, he is entitled, and for the purpose of obtaining  payments of that compensation.

(2)     Nothing in this article shall be construed as effecting the making or operation of any law so far as it provides for the taking of possessions or acquisition of property.

(One)         in satisfaction of any tax, rate due;

(Two)        by way of penalty for breach of the law, whether under civil process or after conviction of a criminal offence under the law of Uganda.

(Three)     As an incident of a lease, tenancy mortgage, charge bill of sale, pledge or contract;

(Four)        By way of the vesting or administration of trust property, enemy property or the property of persons adjudged or otherwise declaimed bankrupt or insolvent, persons of unsound mind, deceased persons, or bodies corporate or incorporate in the course of being wound up;

(Five)         In the execution of judgements or orders of the court

(Six)             By reasons of it’s being in a dangerous state or injurious to the health of human beings, animal and plants. 

(Seven)    In consequences of any law with respect to the limitation of action, or

(Eight)      For so long only as may be necessary for the purpose of any examination, investigation, trial or inquiry or, in the case of land, the carrying out thereon;

 

(Nine)        of work of soil conservation or the conservation of other natural resources ;

(b)                 of agricultural development or improvement that the owner or occupier of the land has been required, and has, without reasonable and lawful excuse, refused or  failed to carry out, or

(c)                 of mining or prospecting operation.

 

(3)     Nothing of this article shall be constructed as affecting the making or operation of any law of compulsory taking of possession in the public interest or any property, or the compulsory acquisition in the public interest of any interest in or right over property, interest or right is held by a  body corporate established by law for public purposes in which no moneys have been invested other than moneys provided by parliament.

 

15. PROTECTION FOR PRIVACY OF HOME AND OTHER PROPERTY

(1)     Except with his own consent, no person shall be subjected to the search of his person or his property or the entry by others of his premises.

(2)     Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be in contravention of his article to the extent that the law in question makes provision.

(One)                     that is reasonable required in the interest of defense, public safety, public order, public morality, the investigation of crime, public health, town and country planning, the development and utilization of mineral resources, or the development and utilization of ant other property in such a manner as to promote the public benefit.

(Two)                    That is reasonably required for the purpose of promoting the rights or freedom of other persons

(Three)                 That authorizes an officer or agent of the Government of Uganda, the East African Common Services Organization, a local authority or body corporate established by law by the public purpose to enter on the premises of any persons in order to inspect those premises or anything thereon for the purpose of any tax, rate or due or in order to carry out work connected with any property that is lawfully on those premises and that belongs to that government, Organization, authority or body corporate, as the case may be.

(Four)                    That authorizes, for the purpose of enforcing the judgement or order of a court in any civil processing, the search of any persons or property by order of the court or entry upon any premises by such orders,

(Five)                     And except so far as that provision or, as the case may be, any thing cone under the authority thereof is shown not to be reasonably justifiable in a democratic society.

 

16. PROVISION TO SECURE PROTECTION OF LAW.
(1) If any person is charged with a criminal offence, then, unless the charge is with drawn, the case shall be afforded a fair hearing within a reasonable time by an independent and impartial court established by law.

(2)Every person who is charged with a criminal offence,

(One)         Shall be presumed to be innocent until he is proved or has pleaded guilty.

(Two)        Shall be informed as soon as reasonable practicable in language that he understands the nature of the offence charged.

(Three)     Shall be given adequate time to facilitate for the preparation of his defense.

(Four)        Shall be permitted to defend himself before the court in person or, at his own expense, by a legal representative of his own choice;

(Five)         Shall be afforded facilities to examine in person or by his legal representative the witnesses called by the prosecution before the court, and to obtain the attendance and carry out the examination of witnesses to testify on his behalf before the court on the same conditions as those applying to witnesses called by the prosecution.

(Six) Shall be permitted to have without payment as assistance of an interpreter if he can not understand the language used at the trial of the charge.

(Seven)    And except with his own consent the trial shall not take place in his absence unless he so conducts himself to render the continence of the proceedings in his presence impracticable and the court has ordered him to be removed and the trial to proceed in his absence.

(3)     When a person is tried for any criminal offence, the accused person or any person authorized by him in that behalf shall, if he so requires and subject to the payment of such reasonable fee as may prescribed by law, be given within a reasonable time after judgement a copy for the use of the accused persons of any record of the proceeding made by or on the behalf of the court.

(4)     No person shall be held to be guilty of a criminal offence on account on any act or omission that did not at the time it took place, constitute such an offence, and no penalty shall be imposed for any criminal offence that is severe in degree or description that the maximum penalty that might have been imposed for that offence at the time when it was committed.

(5)     No person who shows that he has been tried by a competent court for the criminal offence and either convicted or acquitted shall again be tried for that offence or for any other criminal offence of which he could have been convicted at the trial for that offence, save upon the order of the superior court in the course of appeal or review proceedings relating to the conviction or acquittal.

(6)     No person shall be trial for a criminal offence unless that offence if he shows that he has been pardoned for that offence.

(7)     No person who is tried of a criminal offence shall be compiled to give evidence at the trial.

(8)     No person shall be convicted for a criminal offence unless that offence is defined and the penalty therefor is prescribed in a written law.

Provided that nothing in this clause shall prevent a court of record from punishing any person from contempt of its self not with standing that the act or omission constituting the contempt is not defined in a written law and the penalty thereafter is not prescribed.

(9)     Any court of other adjudicating authority prescribed by the law for determination of the existence or extent of any civil right or obligation shall be established by law and shall be independent and impartial and where proceedings for such a determination are instituted by any person before such a court or other adjudicating authority, the case shall be given a fair hearing within a reasonable time.

(10)    Except with the agreement of all the parties thereto, all proceeding of any court and proceeding for the determination of the existence for extent of any civil rights or obligation before any other adjudicating authority, including the announcement of the decision of the court or other authority, shall be held in public.

(11)   Nothing in the last foregoing clause shall prevent the court or other adjudicating  authority  from excluding  from the processing persons other than the parties thereto and there legal representative to such extent  as the court or other authority,

(One)         May consider necessary or expedient in circumstance where publicity would prejudice the interest of justice or interlocutory proceeding. Or

(Two)        May be empowered by law to do so in the interest of defense, public safety, public order, public morality, the welfare of a persons under the age of eighteen years or the protection of the private lives of persons concerned in the proceeding

 

(12)  Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of

(One)         paragraph (a) of clause (2)  of this article to the extent that the law in question  imposes upon any person  charged with a criminal offence the burden of providing particular facts

(Two)        paragraph (e) of clause (2)  of this article to the extent that the law in question imposes conditions that must be satisfied if witnesses called to testified on behalf of any accused person

         

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(10)             Except with the agreement of all the parties thereto, all proceedings of every court and proceedings for the determination of the existence or extent of any civil right or obligation before any other adjudicating authority, including the announcement of the decision of the court or other authority, shall be held in public.

 

(11)              Nothing in the last foregoing clause shall prevent the court or other adjudicating authority from excluding from the proceedings persons other than the parties thereto and their legal representatives to such extent as the court or other authority.

 

(a)                 may consider necessary or expedient in circumstances where publicity would prejudice the interests of justice or interlocutory proceedings;

 

(b)                 may be empowered by law to do so in the interests of defence, public safety, public order, public morality, the welfare of persons under the age of eighteen years or the protection of the private lives of persons concerned in the proceedings.

 

(12)              Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of,

 

(a)                 paragraph (1) of clause (2) of this article to the extent that the law in question imposes upon any person charged with a criminal offence the burden of providing particular facts;

 

(b)                 paragraph (e) of clause (2) of this article to the extent that the law in question imposes conditions that must be satisfied if witnesses called to testify on behalf on an accused person are to be paid if their expenses out of public funds;

 

(c)                 clause (5) of this article to the extent that the law in question authorizes a court to try a member of a disciplined force for a criminal offence notwithstanding any trial and conviction or acquittal of that member under the disciplinary law of theft force, but any court so trying such a ember and convicting him shall in sentencing him to any punishment take into account any punishment awarded him under the disciplinary law.

 

 

(13)         For the purposes of this article, the expression, “criminal offence” means a criminal offence under the law of Uganda; and “legal representative” mans a person entitled to practice in Uganda as an advocate.

 

 

 

 

 

17.                 PROTECTION OF FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE

 

(1)                 Except with his own consent, no person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his freedom of conscience, and for the purposes of this article, the said freedom includes freedom of thought and of religion, freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others, and both in public and in private, to manifest and propagate his religion or belief in worship, teaching, practice and observance.

 

(2)                 Except with his own consent, or if he is a minor, the consent of his guardian, no person attending any place of education shall be required to receive religious instruction or to take part in or attend any religious ceremony or observance if that instruction, ceremony or observance relates to a religion other than his own.

 

(3)                 No person shall be compelled to take any oath which is contrary to his religion or belief or to take any oath in a manner which is contrary to his religion or belief.

 

(4)                 Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to the inconsistent with or in contravention of this article to the extent that the law in question makes provision which is reasonably required,

 

(a)                 in the interests of national economy, the running of essential services, defence, public safety, public order, public morality or public health.

 

(b)                 for the purpose of protecting the rights and freedoms of other persons, including the right to observe and practice any religion without the unsolicited intervention of members of any other religion.

 

 

18.                 PROTECTION OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

 

(1)                 Except with his own consent, no person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his freedom of expression, that is to say, freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference, and freedom from interference with his correspondence.

 

(2)                 Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of this article to the extent that the law in question makes provision,

 

(a)                 that is reasonably required in the interests of national economy, the running of essential services, defence, public, safety, public order, public morality or public health; or

 

(b)                 that is reasonably required for the purpose of protecting the reputations, rights and freedoms of other persons or the private lives of persons concerned in legal proceedings, preventing the disclosure of information received in confidence, maintaining the authority and independence of the courts, or regulating telephone, telegraphy, posts, wireless broadcasting, television, public exhibitions or public entertainments; or

 

(c)                 that imposes restrictions upon public officers, and except so far as that provision or, as the case may be, the thing done under the authority thereof is shown not to be reasonably justifiable in a democratic society.

 

 

19.                 PROTECTION OF FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY AND ASSOCIATION

 

(1)                 Except with his own consent, no person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his freedom of assembly and association, that is to say, his right to assemble freely and associate with other persons and in particular to form or belong to trade unions or other associations for the protection of his interest.

 

(2)                 Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of this article to the extent that the law in question makes provision,

 

(a)                 that is reasonably required in the interests of the national economy, the running of essential services, defence, public safety, public order, public morality or public health; or

 

(b)                 that is reasonably required for the purpose of protecting the rights or freedoms of other persons; or

 

(c)                 that imposes restrictions upon public officers or

 

(d)                 that imposes such restrictions as are set out in paragraph (j0 of clause (1) or article 11; or

 

(e)                 for the regulation of industrial or labour disputes; or

 

(f)                  for the proper management of trade unions and co-operative societies or associations; or

 

(g)                 for the regulation and control of the formation, management and operation of political parties.

 

20.                 PROTECTION OF FREEDOM OF CULTURAL ASSOCIATION

 

(1)                 No persons hall be deprived of his freedom to pay any allegiance to a constitutional Traditional Leader or to support any constitutional Leader or traditional institution or a traditional or cultural practice.

 

(2)                 No person shall be forced to pay any allegiance to a Constitutional Traditional Leader or any traditional  institution or cultural practice.

 

 

21.                 PROTECTION OF FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT

 

(1)                 No person shall be deprived of his freedom of movement, and for the purposes of this article and said freedom means the right to move freely throughout Uganda, the right to enter Uganda and immunity from expulsion from Uganda.

 

(2)                 Any restriction on a person’s freedom of movement that is involved in such detention or restriction as may be authorised by law as mentioned in article 11 shall not be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of this Article.

 

(3)                 Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of this article to the extent that the law in question makes provision,

 

(a)                 for the imposition of restrictions, by order of a court, that are reasonably required in the interests of defence, public safety or public order on the movement or residence within Uganda of any person;

 

(b)                 for the imposition of restrictions by order of a court, on the movements or residence within Uganda of any person either in consequence of his having been found guilty of a criminal offence under the law of Uganda or for the purpose of ensuring that he appears before a court at a later date for trial of such criminal offence or for proceedings preliminary to trial or for proceedings relating to his extradition or other lawful removal from Uganda;

 

(c)                 for the imposition of restrictions that are reasonably required in the interests of national economy, the running of essential services, defence, public safety, public order, public morality or public health on the movement or residence within Uganda of any persons generally, or any class or persons, and accept so far as that provision or, as the case may be, the thing done under the authority thereof is shown not to be reasonably justifiable in a democratic society;

 

(d)                 for the imposition of restrictions on the freedom of movement of any person who is no a citizen of Uganda;

 

(e)                 for the imposition of restrictions on the acquisition or use by any person of land or other property in Uganda;

 

(f)                  for the imposition of restriction upon the movement or residence within Uganda or public officers; or

 

(g)                 for the removal of a person from Uganda to be tried outside Uganda for a criminal offence or to undergo imprisonment in some other country in execution of the sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence under the law or Uganda or which he has been convicted.

 

(4)                 If any person whose freedom of movement has been restricted by the order of a court by virtue of such a provision as is referred to in paragraph (a) of clause (3) of this article so requests at any time during the period of that restriction not earlier than six months after the order was made or six months after he last made such request, as the case may be his case shall be reviewed by that court or, if so provided by law, by an independent and impartial tribunal presided over by a person appointed by the chief Justice.

 

(5)                 On any review by a court or a tribunal pursuance of clause (4) of this article of the case of any person whose freedom o movement has been restricted, the court of tribunal may, subject to the provisions of any law, make such order for the continuation or termination of the restriction as it may consider necessary or expedient.

 

22.                 PROTECTION FROM DISCRIMINATION ON GROUNDS OF RATE ETC.

 

(1)                 Subject to the provisions of clauses (2), (50 and (7) of this article, no law shall make any provision that is discriminatory either of itself or in its effect.

 

(2)                 Subject to the provisions of clauses (6), (7) and (3) of this article, no person shall be treated in a discriminatory manner by any person acting by virtue of any written law or in the performance of the functions of any public office or any public authority.

 

(3)                 For the purposes of this article, the expression “discriminatory” means affording different treatment to different persons attributable wholly or mainly to their respective descriptions by race, tribe, place or origin, political opinion, colour or creed whereby persons of one such description are subjected to disabilities or restrictions to which persons of another such description are not made subject or are accorded privileges or advantages which are not accorded to persons of another such description.

 

(4)                 Clause (1) of this article shall not apply to any law so far as that law makes provision,

 

(a)                 for the appropriation of public revenues or other public funds; or

 

(b)                 with respect to persons who are not citizens of Uganda; or       

 

(c)                 with respect to citizenship of Uganda in accordance with article 5; or

 

(d)                 with respect to adoption, marriage, divorce, burial, devolution or property on death or other matters of personal law; or

 

(e)                 for the application in the case of members of a particular race or tribe of customary law with respect to any matter to the exclusion of any law with respect to that matter which is applicable in the case of other persons; or

 

(f)                  for the imposition of restriction on the acquisition or use by any person of land or other property in Uganda; or

 

(g)                 whereby persons of any such description as is mentioned in clause (3) of this article may be subjected to any disability of restriction or may be accorded any privilege or advantage which, having regard to its nature and to special circumstances pertaining to those persons or to special circumstances pertaining to those persons or to persons of any other such description, is reasonably justifiable in a democratic society; or

 

(h)                 for the employment of a proportion of African citizens of Uganda in any trade, business, profession or occupation.

 

(5)                 Nothing contained in any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of clause (1) of this article to the extent that it makes provision with respect to qualifications for service as a public officer or as a member of a disciplined force or for the service of a local authority or a body corporate established directly by any law.

 

(6)                 Clause (2) of this article shall not apply to anything which is expressly or by necessary implication authorised to be done by any such provision of law as is referred to in clause (4) or (5) of this article.

 

(7)                 Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of this article to the extent that the law in question makes provision whereby persons of any such description as is mentioned in clause (3) of this article may be subjected to any action or restriction authorise by law in accordance with clause (1) of article 11, clause (2) of article 15, clause (4) of article 17, clause (2) of article 18, clause (2) of article 19, or clause (2) or (3) of article 21, as the case may be.

 

(8)                 Nothing in clause (2) o this article shall affect any discretion relating to the institution, conduct, or discontinuance of civil or criminal proceedings in any court that is vested in any person by or under this Constitution or any other law.

 

23.                 PROVISIONS FOR TIMES OF WAR OR PUBLIC EMERGENCY

 

(1)                 The President acting in accordance with the advice of the cabinet may at any time, by proclamation published in the Gazette, declare that a state of public emergency exists in Uganda or any part thereof.

 

(2)                 A declaration of a state of public emergency under the provisions of this article, if not sooner revoked, shall cease to have effect,

 

(a)                 in the case of a declaration made when parliament is sitting or has been summoned to meet within fourteen days, at the expiration of a period of fourteen days beginning with the date f publication of the declaration;

 

(b)                 in any other case, at the expiration of a period of thirty days beginning with the date of publication of the declaration.

 

Unless, before the expiration of that period the declaration of a state of public emergency is approved by a solution passed in that behalf by not less than one-half of all the members of the parliament.

 

(3)                 Subject to the provisions of clause (4) of this article, a declaration of a state of public emergency approved by resolution of Parliament  under the provisions of clause (2) or this Article shall continue in force until the expiration of a period of six months beginning with the date of its being so approved or until such earlier  date as may be specified in the resolution;

 

(4)                 Parliament may by resolution passed by a majority of the members of Parliament at any time revoke a declaration of a state of public emergency approved by Parliament under the provisions of this article.

 

(5)                 Nothing contained in or done under the authority of an Act of Parliament shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of article 11, 16, and 21 or 22 of this Constitution to the extent that the Act authorises the taking during any period when Uganda is at war or any period when a declaration of a state of public emergency under this article I in force, of measures that are necessary of the purpose of dealing with the situation that exists during that period:

 

Provided that the provisions of this clause shall not apply in relation to anything contained in or done under the authority of any instrument having the fore of law that is made under th provisions of an Act of Parliament, during a period when a declaration of a state of public emergency is in force by virtue of a resolution of Parliament has, by a like resolution, affirmed that that instrument shall have effect during that period.

 

(6)                 Where a person is detained by virtue of such law as is referred to in clause (5) of this article the following provisions shall apply, that is to say,

 

(a)                 he shall, as soon as reasonably practicable in any case not more than two months after the commencement of his detention, be furnished with a statement in writing in a language that he understands specifying the grounds upon which he is detained;

 

(b)                 not more than twenty-eight days after the commencement of his detention a notification shall be published in the Gazette stating that he has been detained and giving particulars of the provision of law under which his detention is authorised;

 

(c)                 not more than three months after the commencement of his detention and thereafter during his detention at intervals of not more than six months, his case shall be reviewed by an independent and impartial tribunal established by law and presided over by a person appointed by the Chief Justice;

 

(d)                 he shall be afforded reasonable facilities to consult, a his own expense, a legal representative of his own choice who shall be permitted to make representations to the tribunal appointed for the review of the case of the detained person;

 

(e)                 at the hearing of his case by the tribunal appointed for the review of his case he shall be permitted to appear in person or, at his own expense, by a legal representative of his own choice.

 

(7)                 On any review by a tribunal in pursuance of this article of the case of a detained person, the tribunal may make recommendations concerning the necessity or expediency of continuing his detention or the modification of any conditions attendant thereto on any grounds including ill-health and good behaviour, to the authority by which it was ordered but, unless it is otherwise provided by law, that authority shall not be obliged to act in accordance with any such recommendations.

 

(8)                 The Minister shall every three months publish in the Gazette the total number of persons detained by virtue of such a law as is referred to in clause (5) of this article.

 

(9)                 For the avoidance of doubt it is hereby declared that for the  purposes of this article and for any law made pursuant thereto the expression “detention” means  detention under an order of the Minister.

 

24.                 PROVISIONS FOR A STATE OF INSURGENCY

 

(1)                 The President, acting in accordance with the advice of the Cabinet may at any time, by proclamation published in the Gazette declare that a state of insurgency exists in Uganda or any part thereof.

 

(2)                 A declaration of a state of insurgency made under this Article shall remain in force for a period of six months from the date of its publication unless, before the expiration of that period the declaration is approved by resolution of not less than one half of all the members of the legislature.

 

(3)                 A declaration of a state of insurgency approved by resolution of the legislature under the provision of clause (2) of this Article, shall remain in force for a period of six months from the date of approval, or until such earlier date as may be specified in the resolution.

 

(4)                 The Legislature may at any time after approving a declaration of a state of insurgency, extend its approval for periods of not more than six months at a time, or revoke the declaration.

 

(5)                 Nothing contained in or done under the authority of enactment of the Legislature shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of Article 11, 16, 21 and 22 of this Constitution to the extent that the enactment authorises the taking, during any period when a declaration of a state of insurgency under this Article is in force, of measures that are necessary for the purpose of dealing with the situation that exists during that period.

 

(6)                 For the purposes of this Article, the expression “insurgency” means open and active revolt against the Government of Uganda or its organs.

 

25.                 ENFORCEMENT OF PROTECTIVE PROVISIONS

 

(1)                 Subject to the provisions of clause (50 of this article, if any person alleges that any of the provisions of article 8 to 20 inclusive has been, is being is likely to be contravened in relation to him, then, without prejudice to any other action with respect to the same matter that is lawfully available, that person may apply to the High court for redress.

 

(2)                 The High Court shall have original jurisdiction to hear and determine any application made by any person in pursuance of clause (1) of this article, and may make such orders, issues such writes and give such directions as it may consider appropriate for the purpose of enforcing, r securing the enforcement of, any of the provisions of the said article 9 to 22 inclusive to the protection of which the person concerned is entitled:

 

Provided that the High Court shall not exercise its powers under this clause if it is satisfied that adequate means of redress for the contravention alleged are or have been available to the person concerned under any other law.

 

26.                 INTERPRETATION AND SAVINGS

 

(1)                 In this Chapter, unless the context otherwise requires,

 

“African” means a person who is a member of an indigenous African tribe or community of Uganda or a body corporate or unincorporate entirely composed of such persons;

 

“Contravention” in relation to any requirement, include a failure to comply with that requirement, and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly;

 

“Court” means any court of law in Uganda, other than a court established by a disciplinary law, the Supreme court and in articles 11 and 12 a court established by disciplinary law;

 

disciplinary law” means a law regulating the discipline,

 

(a)                 of any disciplined force; or

 

(b)                 of persons serving prison sentences;

 

disciplined force” means

 

(a)                 a naval, military or air force;

 

(b)                 the Ugandan Police force;

 

(c)                 a police force established by law; enacted by Parliament;

 

(d)                 the Uganda Prisons Service;

 

member”, in relation to a disciplined force, included any person who, under the law regulating the discipline of that force, is subject to that discipline.

 

(2)                 References in this Chapter to public officers include references to officers and employees in the service of the East African common Services Organization

 

(3)                 In relation to any person who is a member of a disciplined force raised under any law in force in Uganda, nothing contained in or done under the authority of the disciplinary law of that force shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of any of the provisions of this Chapter other than articles 11, 12 and 13.

 

(4)                 In relation to any person who is a member of a disciplined force raised otherwise than as aforesaid and lawfully present in Uganda, nothing contained in or done under the authority of the disciplinary law of that force shall beheld to be inconsistent with or in contravention of any of the provisions of this Chapter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER IV

 

THE EXECUTIVE

 

Part 1 The President and Vice President

 

27.                 PRESIDENT OF UGANDA

 

(1)                 There shall be a President of Uganda who shall be the Head of State, Head of government and Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Uganda.

 

(2)                 Except as is provided in clause (1) of this article, the President shall not hold any other office of profit.

 

(3)                 Subject to the Article 129, the President shall take precedence over all persons in Uganda and shall not be liable to any proceedings whatsoever in any court during the time he is in office.

 

(4)                 The President shall be exempt from direct personal taxation.

 

(5)                 The President shall receive such salary, allowances and gratuity on retirement from office such pension or other allowances, as may be prescribed by Parliament.

 

(6)                 The salary, allowances and gratuity payable to the President and any pension or other allowances payable to him on retirement are hereby charged upon the Consolidated Fund.

 

(7)                 For the purpose of this article the expression “retirement” includes resignation.

 

28.                 QUALIFICATION FOR THE PRESIDENT

 

A person shall be qualified to be the President and shall not be so qualified unless:

 

(1)            he is a citizen of Uganda, both whose parents are Uganda Africans.

 

(2)     he has attained the age of forty five years. (14).

 

(3)     He is supported by at least 40% of RC 3, or its equivalent, of the entire Country. 15

 

29.                 ELECTION OF PRESIDENT

 

The President shall be directly elected through universal adult suffrage on a non-partisan basis at least one month before the election of members of Parliament (16).           

 

30.                 DETERMINATION OF QUESTIONS AS TO ELECTION OF PRESIDENT

 

(1)                 For the purposes of article 29 of this Constitution the High Court shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine any question whether the President was validly elected.

 

(2)                 Parliament may make provision with respect to,

 

(a)                 the persons who may apply to the High Court for determination of any question under this article;

 

(b)                 the circumstances and manner in which and the conditions upon which any such application may be made; and

 

(c)                 the powers, practice and procedure of the High Court in relation to any such application.

 

31.                 OATH TO BE TAKEN BY PRESIDENT

 

Before  assuming office of the President shall take and subscribe the oath of allegiance and such other oath, if any, as may be prescribed by Parliament.

 

32.                 ASSUMPTION AND TENURE OF THE PRESIDENT

 

(1)                 A person who is elected President shall assume the office of  President within twenty four hours of election.

 

(2)                 Subject to the provisions of their Constitution, a person shall hold office as President for a term of five years beginning with the day on which he takes and subscribes the oath of allegiance in accordance with the provisions of articles 31 of this Constitution.

 

(3)                 Where a person assumes the office of President by virtue of article 29 of this Constitution, he shall hold office for a period of five years but shall exceed two terms 17.

 

(4)                 Where a person assumes the office of President otherwise than after a general election, he shall hold office for the remainder of the unexpired term of the person whom he succeeds as President.

 

(5)                 The President may, at any time by writing under his hand addressed to the Chief Justice, resign the office of President.

33.                 REMOVAL AND IMPEACHMENT OF THE PRESIDENT

 

1.                    If the Cabinet resoles upon a motion proposed by any member thereof and supported by the votes of a majority of all the members of the Cabinet that the question of the mental or physical capacity of the President to discharge the functions of his office ought to be investigated and so informs the Chief Justice, then,

 

(a)                 the Chief Justice shall appoint a board consisting of five persons who are qualified medial practitioners under the law of Uganda or of any other country and who have  been so qualified for not less than five years; and

 

(b)                 the board shall inquire  into the matter and shall make a report to the Chief Justice stating the opinion of the board whether or not the President is, by reason of any infirmity of body or mind, incapable of discharging the functions of his office.

 

2.                    Where a resolution is passed by the Cabinet under clause (1) of this article, the President shall, until another person assumes the office of President or the board appointed in pursuance of that clause reports that the President is not incapable of discharging the functions of his office whichever is the earlier, cease to perform the functions of his office.

 

3.                    If the board appointed under this article reports that the President is incapable of discharging the functions of the office of President, the chief Justice shall certify in writing accordingly and shall submit the report together with his certificate to the Cabinet.

 

4.                    The Cabinet shall inform the President of the contents of the report submitted under the immediately preceding clause and unless the President resigns, he may be removed from office by the Parliament upon a resolution in that behalf or if Parliament is dissolved, by the Cabinet in like manner.

 

5.                    For the purposes of paragraph (b) of clause (1) of this article the opinion of the majority of all the members of the board shall be the opinion of the board.

 

6.                    (a)           The President may be impeached by two-thirds of Parliament if:

 

(i)                   he commits a grave mismeanour;

(ii)                 he breaches any of the provisions of Chapter III of this Constitution.

 

(b)           Impeachment shall be by two-thirds majority of Parliament and two-thirds majority in at least eight of the fourteen states.

 

7.                    When the President is impeached and ---- of office has expired, he shall forthwith cease to be President.

 

8.                    If the person referred to above refuses to leave office, then any citizen of Uganda shall be empowered by this Constitution to effect the removal of such person using all means available to the citizens.

 

VICE PRESIDENT

 

(1)                 There shall be a Vice-President of Uganda who shall be the running-mate of the winning Presidential candidate as under article 29 of this Constitution.

 

(2)                 A prospective Presidential candidate shall declare his own running mate.

 

(3)                 The running mate of a Presidential candidate shall  be possessed of the qualifications prescribed in article 28 (1) and (2) for this Constitution.

 

(4)                 The Vice-President shall on entering upon the duties of his office take and subscribe the oath of allegiance and such other oath or the execution of his office as may be prescribed by Parliament if he has not already taken any oath.

 

(5)                 The Vice-President shall receive such salary, allowances and gratuity and on retirement from office such pension or other allowances, as may be prescribed by Parliament.

 

(6)                 The salary, allowances and gratuity payable to the Vice-President and any pension or other allowances payable to him on retirement are hereby charged upon the Consolidated Fund.

 

(7)                 In case of the removal of the President from office, or of his oath, resignation, or inability to discharge the powers ad duties of the said office, the same shall vest in the Vice-President for the un expired term of the President.

 

(8)                 For the purposes of this article the expression, “retirement” includes resignation and cessation to hold office for any cause.

 

 

 

 

 

PART II

 

MINISTERS AND THE CABINET

 

35            (1)           The President may appoint a Prime Minster, Ministers, Ministers

of  State or Deputy Ministers and may assign them such duties as deems fit.

 

Provided that where the appointment of a Prime Minister, Ministers of State or Deputy Minister is made from among the members of Parliament of Federal State Council the person to be appointed shall resign his seat in Parliament or the Federal State Council as the case may be. 21

 

(2)           All ministerial appointments shall first be approved by Parliament and no person shall execute the office of a Minister until his appointment has been so approved. 22

 

(3)                 The office of a Prime Minsiter, Minister of State or Deputy Minister appointed under this Article shall become vacant.

 

(a)                 if a new President assumes office;

 

(b)                 if the holder of the office resigns;

 

(c)                 if the President so directs.

 

36.                 FUNCTIONS OF MINISTERS, MINISTERS O STATE AND DEPUTY MINISTERS

 

(1)                 A Minister shall be responsible for such  functions of the Government of Uganda including responsibility for any implement the policy of the Government of Uganda in the  performance of this function the Cabinet shall be collectively responsible to Parliament.

 

40.                 MEETINGS OF CABINET

 

(1)                 The Cabinet shall be summoned by the President or in this absence by the Vice-President.

 

(2)                 The President shall so far as is practicable attend and preside  at all meeting of the Cabinet such Minister as the President shall in writing appoint shall preside at the meeting of the Cabinet. And in the absence of the President the Vice-President shall preside.

 

(3)                 If for any cause the President and the Vice President are unable to a--- any meetings of the Cabinet. Such Minister as the President shall in writing appoint shall preside at the meeting of the cabinet.

 

PART III

 

FEDERAL STATE GOVERNMENTS

 

41.           (1)           There shall be a Government in each state headed by a Governor or such

other name as each Federal State shall deem fit.

 

(2)                 Elections for the office of Governor shall be by the RC system, provided the C IV Councils of each State shall constitute themselves into an electoral college.

 

(3)                 There shall be a Federal State Cabinet of Ministers in each Federal State, which shall not exceed 17 people, consisting of the Governor and such other ministers as may be appointed to the State Cabinet by the Governor.

 

42.           COMPOSITION OF PARLIAMENT

 

(1)                 Parliament shall consist of the following categories of members

 

(a)           (i)            Not more than 155 elected members unless Parliament

otherwise resolves;

 

(ii)                 These shall be elected from various Districts in proportion to the population of each District provided no District shall have less than one elected member.

 

(b)           (i)            ten (10) Presidential nominees; and

 

(ii)                 the President shall fill any vacancy amongst such department of the Government as the President may by directions in writing assign to him.

 

(2)                 Where any Minister has been charged with responsibility for any department of the Government of Uganda he shall be responsible for the administration of that department and in the control of that department and in the discharge of his functions under this article, he shall be responsible to the Cabinet.

 

(3)                 A Minister of state or deputy Minster shall assist such Minister as the President may specify in the performance of that Ministers functions under this article.

 

37.                 ATTORNEY GENERAL

 

(1)          There shall be an Attorney General who shall be the principal legal

adviser to the Government of Uganda, appointed by the President on approval of Parliament.

 

(2)           Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the Attorney General

      shall represent Uganda in all legal proceedings and shall on behalf

      of Uganda exercise or perform any of her rights, prerogatives,

      privileges or functions before any court.

 

                                (3)           The office of the Attorney General shall become vacant:-

 

(a)                 if a new President assumes office;

 

(b)                 if the holder of the office resigns;

 

(c)                 upon the assumption of any person to the office of President; or

 

(d)                 if the President so directs.

 

38.                 OATHS TO BE TAKEN MINISTERS etc

 

A Minister shall not enter upon the duties of his office unless he has taken and subscribed the oath of allegiance and such oath for the late execution of his office as may be prescribed by Parliament.

 

CABINET

 

(1)                 There shall be a Cabinet of Ministers which shall not exceed 17 people consisting of the President, the Vice President, Prime Minister if any and such other Ministers as may be appointed to the Cabinet by the President.

 

(2)                 The number of Ministers may be increased if Parliament does so resolve.

 

(3)                 The functions of the Cabinet shall be to formulate and  Presidential nominees however caused.

 

(c)           (i)            ten (10) members of the National Resistance Army

appointed by the National Resistance Army Council.

 

(ii)                 the nomination of the said members of the National resistance Army shall take place as soon as possible after the election of the President; and shall be done by the National resistance Army council.

 

(iii)                On losing membership of the National Resistance Army for member shall cease to be a member of the Parliament.

 

(iv)               The National resistance Army Council shall have the power to fill any vacancy caused for any reason whatsoever amongst the said nominated members of the Army.

 

(d)                 Women representatives from each District depending on the population provided that no District shall be represented by less than one (1) woman representative nor more than three (3).

 

43.                 FEDERAL STATE COUNCILS AND SUB-STATE COUNCILS

 

(a)                 There shall be a legislature in each federal State to be known as a Federal State Council which shall be composed of representatives from the counties making up the State.

 

(b)                 Elections to the Federal State Councils shall be through direct adult universal suffrage on a non-partisan basis.

 

Provided nothing in this article shall prevent a Federal State from adopting an election system of its own.

 

(c)                 The State Council shall in addition to the country representatives stated above consist of five (50 special nominees appointed by the State Governor.

 

44.           QUALIFICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP OF PARLIAMENT

 

Subject to the provisions of article 5 of this Constitution, a person shall be qualified to be a member of the Parliament if, and shall not be so qualified unless,

 

(a)                 he is, a citizen of Uganda who has attained the age of twenty-one years;

 

(b)                 he is able to speak and unless incapacitated by blindness or other physical cause, to read the official  language well enough to take an active part in the proceedings of Parliament and;

 

(c)                 he is a registered voter.

 

 

 

 

45.           DISQUALIFICATIONS FOR  MEMBERSHIP OF PARLIAMENT

 

                No person shall be qualified to be a member of Parliament while he;

 

(a)                 is the President or Vice President;

 

(b)                 is a member of a District or Municipal Council;

 

(c)                 is Minister;

 

(d)                 had made a declaration of allegiance to a country other than Uganda;

 

(e)                 has been adjudged or otherwise declared bankrupt under any law in force in Uganda and has not been discharged;

 

(f)                  is adjudged or otherwise declared to be of unsound mind under any law in force in Uganda;

 

(g)                 is a civil servant;

 

(h)                 is the Inspector General of Police;

 

(i)                   is the Inspector General of Government or his Deputy;

 

(j)                   is the Auditor General;

 

(k)                 a Judge or Magistrate;

 

(l)                   is under sentence of death imposed on him by any court in Uganda or under sentence of imprisonment, by whatever name called, exceeding six months imposed on him by such a court or substituted by competent authority for some other sentence imposed on him by such a court, or

 

(m)                has, within the preceding six years, served a sentence if imprisonment by whatever name called of six months or more imposed on him by court in Uganda, other than tribunals set up by the Military regime of substituted by competent authority for some other sentence imposed on him by such  court having been convicted of an offence involving moral turpitude.

 

(2)           Parliament may provide that a person who is the holder of any office the function of which involves;

 

(a)                 any responsibility for, or in connection with the conduct of any election to Parliament; or

 

(b)                 any responsibility for the compilation or revision of any register of voters for elections to Parliament, shall not be qualified to be a member of Parliament.

 

 

(3)           Parliament may provide that a person shall not be qualified to be a member of Parliament for such period, not exceeding five years, as may be prescribed if he is convicted of any such offence connected with elections to Parliament as may be prescribed or he is expelled from the Parliament after having been found guilty of contempt of Parliament by a committee of Parliament.

 

(4)           Parliament may provide that, subject to article 45 and of such exceptions and limitations if any as may be prescribed a person shall be disqualified for nomination for elections to Parliament or be disqualified for membership of Parliament by virtue of Parliament by virtue of;

 

(a)                 his holding or acting in any office or appointment that may be prescribed;

 

(b)                 his belonging to any disciplined force

 

(5)           For purposes of this article:

 

(a)                 two or more sentences of imprisonment that are required to be served consecutively shall be regarded as separate sentences if none of those sentences exceeds six months, and if any one of such sentences exceeds that term they shall be regarded as one sentence, and

 

(b)                 no account shall be taken of a sentence of imprisonment imposed as an alternative to or in default of the payment of a fine.

 

(6)                 Parliament may prescribe any other disqualifications other than those specifically referred to in this article.

 

(7)                 In this article “disciplined force” as the same meaning as in Chapter III of the Constitution.

 

46.                 SPEAKER AND DEPUTY SPEAKER

 

(1)                 A person shall be qualified to be the Speaker and shall not be so qualified unless he has attained a University degree in Law and a diploma in Legal Practice.

 

(2)                 A Speaker may be elected from within members of Parliament or outside it.

 

(3)                 A Prime Minister, the Attorney General, Minister of State or a Deputy Minister or any person referred to in article 45 shall not be qualified to be elected as Speaker.

 

(4)                 The Speaker shall vacate his office,

 

(a)                 If, having been elected from among the members of Parliament, he ceases to be a member of  Parliament.

 

(b)                 if any circumstances arise that, if he were no Speaker, would disqualify him for election as such;

 

(c)                 if he resigns his office;

 

(d)                 if a petition for his removal is addressed to the President by members of Parliament and is signed by not less than two-thirds of all the members of Parliament; or

 

(e)                 when Parliament first meets after any dissolution of Parliament.

 

No business shall be transacted in Parliament other than an election to the office of Speaker, at any time when the office of the Speaker is vacant.

 

47.           DEPUTY SPEAKER

 

(1)                 There shall be a deputy Speaker of Parliament who shall be elected by the members of Parliament from among persons who are members of Parliament.

 

(2)                 The members of Parliament shall elect a person to the office of Deputy Speaker when Parliament first meets after any dissolution of Parliament and if the office becomes vacant otherwise than by reason of a dissolution of Parliament, at the first sitting of Parliament after the office becomes vacant or as soon as is convenient thereafter.

 

(3)                 The Deputy Speaker shall vacate his office,

 

(a)                 if he ceases to be a member of Parliament;

 

(b)                 if he becomes a Prime Minister, Minister, Minister of State, the Attorney General or Deputy Minister;

 

(c)                 if he resigns his office, or

 

(d)                 if a petition for his removal is addressed to the President by members of Parliament and is singed by not less than two-thirds of all the members of Parliament.

 

48.           ELECTION OF ELECTED MEMBERS

 

(1)                 Subject to the provisions of this article; the elected members of Parliament shall be directly elected in such manner as may be prescribed by Parliament to represent.

 

(2)                 Elections for Parliament shall be held not less than 30 but not more than 45 days after the Presidential Elections.

 

(3)                 Candidates shall be free to be independent or after a period of 5 (five) years from the coming into force of this Constitution to stand under the names of Political Parties of their choice.

 

(4)                 For avoidance of any doubt, any runner or runner-up in the Presidential elections shall be free to stand for election to Parliament.

 

(5)                 The registration of voters for the purposes of elections of elected members of Parliament conduct of direct elections of these members shall be subject to the direction and control of the Electoral Commission.

 

49.                 ELECTIONS OF STATE COUNCILS

 

Elections of the Federal State Legislative Council and the Councils below it, shall be through direct adult universal suffrage on a non partisan basis, but may be of any other system a given Federal State may find suitable for itself.

 

50.                 QUALIFICATIONS OF VOTERS

 

A person who,

 

(a)                 is a citizen of Uganda; and

 

(b)                 has attained the age of eighteen years, shall, unless he is disqualified for registration as a voter under any law, be entitled, upon his making application in that behalf at such time and is such manner as may be prescribed by Parliament, to be registered as Voter for the purposes of elections of elected members of Parliament.

 

 

 

 

51.           ELECTORAL COMMISSION

 

(1)                 There shall be an Electoral Commission, which shall consist of a Chairman and not less than two other members appointed by the President on approval of Parliament.

 

52.           ELECTORAL COMMISSION

               

(1)                 There shall be an Electoral Commission, which shall consist of a Chairman and not less than two other members appointed by the President on approval of Parliament.

 

(2)                 A person shall, not be qualified to hold the office of a member of the Electoral Commission if he is a member of Parliament or of Federal State Council, District or Municipal Council or is a public officer.

 

(3)                 Subject to the provisions of this article, a member of the Electoral Commission shall vacate his office,

 

(a)                 at the expiration of four years from the date of his appointment, or

 

(b)                 if any circumstances arise that, if he were not a member of the commission would cause him to be disqualified for appointments as such or

 

(c)                 if he resigns his office.

 

 

(4)                 A member of the Electoral Commission may be removed from office by the President but he may be removed only for inability to discharge the functions of his office, whether arising from infirmity of mind or body or any other cause, or for misbehaviour.

 

52.           CONSTITUENCIES

 

(1)                 Subject to the provisions of article 42 (1) (a) Uganda shall be divided into as many constituencies as there are elected members of parliament in such manner as the Electoral Commission, acting with the approval  of Parliament signified by resolution, may prescribe.

 

(2)                 The boundaries of each constituency shall be such that the number of inhabitants thereof is as nearly equal to the population quota as is reasonably practicable:

 

(3)                 The Electoral Commission shall review the division of Uganda into constituencies at intervals of not less than five and not more than ten years and may alter the constituencies in accordance with the provisions of this article to such extent as it may consider desirable in the light of the review.

 

(4)                 The Commission shall carry out the review and, in accordance with the provisions of this article, alter the constituencies wherever Parliament has made provision altering the number of elected members of Parliament; and, in addition, the Commission may at any time carry out such a review and alter the constituencies in accordance with the provisions of this article to such extent as it considers necessary by reason of the holding of a census of the population of Uganda.

 

(5)                 Where the boundaries of any constituency established under this article are altered, the alteration shall come into effect upon the next dissolution of Parliament.

 

(6)                 For the purpose of article, the expression “population quota”  means the number obtained by dividing the number of inhabitants of Uganda by the number of constituencies into which Uganda is divided under Article 42 (1) (a).

 

54. (1)     The Presidential nominees shall be nominated before or during the first meeting of parliament after any dissolution of Parliament.

 

(1)                 Every member of parliament shall vacate his seat upon dissolution of parliament.

 

(2)                 Every member of parliament shall vacate his seat in parliament if he is appointed Prime Minister, Minister of State of Deputy Minster by the President under article 35 (1) of this Constitution and upon such vacation a by-election will be called to fill the vacant seat.

 

(3)                 A member of Parliament shall vacate his seat in Parliament.

 

(a)                 if he ceases to be a citizen of Uganda;

 

(b)                 if he is absent from the sittings of Parliament for such period and in such circumstances as may be prescribed in the rules of procedure of Parliament; or

 

(c)                 if he is recalled by the electors

 

(d)                 if in case of multi-party system he changes his party;

 

(e)                 subject to the provisions of clause (3) of this article, if nay circumstances arise that, if he were not a member of Parliament; would cause him to be disqualified for election as such under clause (1), (3) or (4) of article 45.

 

 

(4)                 Parliament may, in order to permit a member of Parliament who has been adjudged or declared bankrupt or of unsound mind or sentenced to death or imprisonment to appeal against the decision, provided that, subject to such conditions as may be prescribed, the decisions hall not have effect for the purpose of this article until such time a may be prescribed.

 

55.                 DETERMINATION OF QUESTIONS TO MEMBERSHIP OF PARLIAMENT