Tundu Lissu asserts that an “imperial presidency” stems from Julius Nyerere’s legacy in Tanzania and Uganda. During a lecture at Makerere University, he highlighted Nyerere’s transition from parliamentary democracy to a powerful presidency, influencing Uganda’s governance. Lissu criticized Museveni’s regime for adopting militaristic political practices and acknowledged Nyerere’s contributions, including term limits and Pan-Africanism.
Tundu Lissu, the Chairman of the opposition party CHADEMA in Tanzania, has criticized the constitutional legacy of Julius Kambarage Nyerere, highlighting the existence of an “imperial presidency” in both Tanzania and Uganda. Speaking at Makerere University during a lecture on Nyerere’s constitutional legacies, Lissu emphasized that this governance model was established during Nyerere’s tenure, particularly when Tanganyika shifted from parliamentary democracy to a powerful executive presidency in 1962.
Lissu pointed out that this transition set a template for Uganda’s governance framework, which adopted a militaristic approach to instate a republican constitution in 1966. He asserted that the resulting structure solidified an “imperial presidency,” similar to that of Nyerere, as seen in the characteristics of Uganda’s 1966 ‘Pigeonhole Constitution’ and the subsequent 1967 constitution.
He discussed the influence of Nyerere on Uganda’s constitutional framework, particularly after the ousting of Idi Amin in 1979. Under President Yoweri Museveni, Lissu noted that Uganda followed a path reminiscent of Nyerere’s political philosophy, specifically highlighting Museveni’s embrace of Nyerere’s concepts during his university years.
Lissu stated unequivocally, “Who can deny that Uganda, under Yoweri Museveni and the 1995 constitution, does not have an imperial president? All of this was inspired by Julius Kambarage Nyerere.” He critiqued Museveni’s regime for its military-political alignment, which he likened to Nyerere’s methodologies.
Notably, Lissu acknowledged Nyerere’s crucial legacy of introducing presidential term limits, recognizing Tanzania as the first African nation to adopt this constitutional provision. He contrasted this with Uganda, where such limits were later removed. In addition to governance, Lissu praised Nyerere for his commitment to Pan-Africanism, his role in supporting Southern African liberation movements, and fostering academic freedom, lamenting the lack of intellectual vitality in modern universities compared to Nyerere’s era.
Tundu Lissu’s remarks underscore the significant impact of Julius Nyerere’s constitutional legacy, revealing the challenges faced in Uganda and Tanzania regarding the concentration of presidential power. By tracing the evolution of governance models, Lissu calls attention to the need for genuine democratic principles, urging a reflection on Nyerere’s laudable achievements, such as the introduction of term limits and promotion of academic discourse. As East Africa navigates its political future, dialogue surrounding these constitutional legacies remains essential.
Original Source: thechanzo.com
