TABLE OF CONTENTS
DECLARATION ............................................................................................................................. i
SUPERVISOR'S APPROVAL ...................................................................................................... ii
DEDICATION ............................................................................................................................... iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ............................................................................................................. iv
LIST OF CASES ............................................................................................................................. v
LIST OF STATUTES .................................................................................................................... vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................. vii
LIST OF ACRONYMS ................................................................................................................. ix
ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................... x
CHAPTER ONE .............................................................................................................................. 1
1.0 Background ................................................................................................................................ I
1.1 Problem Statement. .................................................................................................................... 3
1.2 General Objective of the Study ................................................................................................ .3
1.3 The Specific Objectives of the Study ........................................................................................ 4
I. To establish the supremacy of the 1995 Constitution as amended in Uganda ........................... .4
1.4 Research Questions ................................................................................................................... .4
1.5 Scope of the Study .................................................................................................................... .4
1.6 Hypothesis ................................................................................................................................. 4
1.7 Research Methodology .............................................................................................................. 5
l.8Significance of the Study ............................................................................................................ 5
1.8 Literature Review ...................................................................................................................... 5
1.9 Synopsis/Chapterisation .......................................................................................................... 13
CHAPTER 2 .................................................................................................................................. 14
THE SUPREMACY OF THE CONSTITUTION OF UGANDA ................................................ 14
2. 0 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 14
2.1 Qualification of the Concept of the Supremacy of the Constitution in Uganda ...................... 17
vii
2.3. The Nexus Between the Notion of the Supremacy of the Constitution and the BSD ............ 19
CHAPTER 3 .................................................................................................................................. 20
THE INDEPENDENCE OF PARLIAMENT IN EXERCISING LEGISLATIVE POWERS AND
ANY POSSIBLE ABUSES ........................................................................................................... 20
3.0 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 20
3 .1 Independence of Parliament .................................................................................................... 20
3.3 Cases of Possible abuse of Legislative Powers by Parliament in Uganda .............................. 24
CHAPTER 4 .................................................................................................................................. 27
THE PERMITTED INTERFERENCE BY THE JUDICIARY IN THE LAW MAKING
PROCESS IN UGANDA .............................................................................................................. 27
4.0 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 27
4.1 The Independence of the Judiciary .......................................................................................... 28
4.2. The Role of the Judiciary in law making process .................................................................. .31
CHAPTER FIVE ........................................................................................................................... 32
THE BASIC FEATURES OF 1995 CONSTITUTION OF UGANDA ........................................ 32
5.0 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 32
5.1 Factors considered by Court in Determining the Basic Features of a Constitution ................ 34
5.2 Basic Features identifiable in the 1995 Constitution ofUganda ............................................. 35
CHAPTER SIX .............................................................................................................................. 39
RESEARCH FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............................. 39
6.1 Discussion of Findings of the Study ....................................................................................... .39
6.2 Conclusions ............................................................................................................................. 39
6.3 Recommendations .................................................................................................................... 40
REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................. 42
ABSTRACT
This research attempts to settle the controversies surrounding constitutional amendments in Uganda. In the recent years, constitutional amendments have become a do or die issue in many instances and most especially the latest age-limit amendment which drew various arguments including questioning the powers of Parliament to do so. The parliament is a constitutionally mandated organ with powers to amend the Constitution under article 259. However, this power is exercised in accordance with the Constitution which include compliance with the laid down procedures for flexible and rigidly entrenched provisions, certificate of compliance when being presented for presidential assent. This research shall analyze the roles of Parliament and the Judiciary in the constitutionalism of Uganda and the extent to each organ's independence which brings into play 'Judicial checks' through the concept of the Basic Structure of the Constitution which is a tool for checking the validity of the amendment. The nature of the 1995 Constitution of Uganda shall also be the subject of discussion in this work to help in proper conceptualization of the Doctrine of the Basic Structure in constitutional law. The research also shall inter alia identify the Basic features of the 1995 Constitution as amended and report any violations of the Basic structure if any. The research will also investigate any abuse of legislative powers by Parliament in the post 1995 era which helps to explain the necessity to check the Parliament by the Judiciary. The work shall report its findings, conclusions and make possible recommendations to help improve constitutionalism in Uganda.