Tundu Lissu asserts that Julius Nyerere’s influence established an ‘imperial presidency’ in Tanzania and Uganda. He highlights the transition of governance styles, critiques Museveni’s regime for mirroring this legacy, and acknowledges Nyerere’s positive impact on term limits and academic freedom.
Tundu Lissu, Chairman of the opposition party CHADEMA in Tanzania, has articulated that the constitutional constructs within Tanzania and Uganda exemplify an “imperial presidency” legacy from Julius Kambarage Nyerere. These assertions were presented during a public lecture at Makerere University, focusing on Nyerere’s constitutional impacts on both nations, organized by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and the Human Rights and Peace Centre.
Lissu elaborated on how Tanganyika transitioned under Nyerere from a parliamentary democracy in 1962 to a republican government, fostering a presidency that resembled medieval European monarchies. He pointed out that this transformation influenced Uganda after its own independence shortly before Tanzania’s republican designation.
Lissu remarked, “When Uganda gained independence, there was already a governance model in East Africa—Tanganyika—where the person in power controlled the instruments of the state and held real power.” He further described Uganda’s constitution establishment in 1966, suggesting that military intervention led to a republican constitution that enshrined an imperial presidency.
Analyzing Uganda’s 1966 ‘Pigeonhole Constitution’ and the subsequent 1967 constitution, Lissu noted a prominent feature: the imperial presidency, akin to that introduced by Nyerere under Tanganyika’s 1962 republican constitution. He also discussed Nyerere’s impact post-Amin in 1979, which influenced Uganda’s political trajectory under Yoweri Museveni.
Lissu contended that Museveni embodies Nyerere’s legacy, controlling an imperial presidency under the 1995 constitution. He critiqued Museveni’s regime, arguing it emulates Nyerere’s political approach by intertwining military power with political governance, a practice highlighted by the naming of Uganda’s armed forces as the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), similar to Tanzania’s military branch.
Nonetheless, Lissu recognized a significant aspect of Nyerere’s legacy worth praising: his introduction of presidential term limits, which made Tanzania the pioneering African nation to adopt such a constitutional measure. Contrarily, Uganda later eliminated these term limits.
Moreover, Lissu applauded Nyerere’s contribution to Pan-Africanism and his pivotal role in aiding Southern African nations during their independence struggles. He emphasized Nyerere’s dedication to academic freedom, contrasting it with today’s restrictive environments in universities, which lack the intellectual engagement that characterized Nyerere’s era at the University of Dar es Salaam.
In summary, Tundu Lissu’s lecture highlights the profound influence of Julius Nyerere’s constitutional legacy on the political frameworks of Tanzania and Uganda. He argues that both nations exhibit traits of an imperial presidency stemming from Nyerere’s governance style, particularly during transitions of power. Lissu acknowledges Nyerere’s positive contributions, such as promoting presidential term limits and academic freedom, contrasting them with the current political climate in Uganda under Yoweri Museveni.
Original Source: thechanzo.com
