20110228
reuters

KAMPALA (Reuters) - A member of Uganda's government has proposed lengthening the presidential term to seven from five years a week after President Yoweri Museveni extended his 25-year-rule in a disputed election.

The opposition, which says the election was a sham, condemned the proposal and branded state minister James Kakooza as "puppet" of the president.

Kakooza successfully proposed a motion to scrap a two-term presidential limit in 2005, allowing Museveni to run again.

"The president has a manifesto but you waste two years looking for re-election," Kakooza told Reuters on Monday. "Is it practical that you can implement a manifesto in two years? Seven years would be more time to deliver better service to the people."

Museveni, one of Africa's longest serving leaders, was handed 68 percent of the vote by the electoral commission last week with closest rival Kizza Besigye trailing on 26 percent.

Besigye, a former ally of Museveni, says the poll was flawed by bribery, ballot box stuffing and intimidation and has called for peaceful protests.

Kakooza said he would also propose reinstating the two-term limit. If passed, his proposals would come into effect in 2016 when the country is due to vote again, he added.

Opposition politicians slammed the proposal on television and in newspapers and some said the proposal was an attempt to extend the president's rule by 14 years.