In a candid reflection on Uganda's 1995 Constitution, Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo, a former member of the Constituent Assembly, acknowledged that the framers made presidential term limits too easy to amend. Speaking in an interview with the Daily Monitor, he expressed regret over the lack of stringent safeguards to protect critical provisions like the two-term presidential clause and the age limit.
Justice Owiny-Dollo emphasized that the framers were overly optimistic, assuming that no future legislature would tamper with the Constitution. He noted, "We were carried away by the euphoria of the National Resistance Movement (NRM)’s success. We believed no rational legislature would tamper with the Constitution. That was naive." He further stated that stronger entrenchments, such as requiring a referendum for amendments to term limits, should have been included to protect these provisions from easy alteration.
Reflecting on the broader constitutional process, Justice Owiny-Dollo highlighted the extensive consultations led by the Justice Odoki Commission, which traveled the country to gather public input. He noted that despite the challenges, the process was inclusive and aimed at creating a document that reflected the aspirations of all Ugandans.
Justice Owiny-Dollo's reflections serve as a reminder of the importance of robust constitutional safeguards and the need for ongoing vigilance to protect democratic principles.