By Rev. Dr. Kelvin Mugala | Advocate for Constitutional Integrity
There are those claiming that the proposed amendments to the Constitution cannot lead to a life presidency. However, a careful legal analysis reveals how the Bill subtly opens that very door—not through direct language, but through strategic ambiguity and manipulation of definitions.
1. Redefinition of “Term of Office” (Article 266)
The Amendment Bill introduces a new definition of a term as the period starting from the first sitting of Parliament after a general election and ending when Parliament is dissolved.
Why this is dangerous:
This definition detaches the presidential term from a fixed 5-year calendar. It creates room for delays, early dissolutions, and technical arguments that a full “term” was never served.
A President could argue that an earlier term doesn’t count—restarting the clock and running again.
2. Weakening of Article 106 (Presidential Term Limits)
Article 106 currently limits any person to two terms. But with a redefined “term,” a sitting President could argue that:
They served a “partial” term
Or their prior service was under the old constitution and doesn’t count
This is the same tactic used in other countries to bypass constitutional limits—change the rules, then claim the old ones don’t apply.
3. No Transitional Clauses or Legal Safeguards
The Bill doesn’t clearly protect the two-term limit by stating how past service will be treated under the new framework.
Without this clarity, courts could be used to validate extended tenures.
4. Expanding and Controlling Parliament
With 92 additional Members of Parliament—including nominated and party-list seats—a sitting President could stack Parliament with loyalists, enabling future amendments that remove limits entirely.
This creates a pipeline toward authoritarian rule through “legal” means.
Conclusion: A Silent Path to Life Presidency
The Bill does not need to say “life president.”
It only needs to:
Redefine the term,
Remove strict safeguards,
Empower a compliant Parliament,
And confuse the legal framework just enough to exploit.
Democracy is not only threatened by force, but by manipulation.
This is why the people must remain alert and reject this amendment in its current form.
#DefendTheConstitution
#SayNoToHiddenPowerGrabs
#ProtectPresidentialTermLimits
