Uganda, Feb. 25 -- Abu Mayanja thought that a constitution does not resolve major political or criminal problems, though having one helps structure laws.

"I want to make this point strongly that we should not change constitutions in the way some men change their shirts. The Constitution should be considered as a document at great sanctity. That is why we call it the fundamental law of the country, we should respect it, we should abide by it," he offered during a plenary session on July 5, 1967 as the House contemplated the enactment of a new Constitution.

Mayanja started his lengthy speech [on the floor of Parliament] by asking several critical questions, including the following: What were the essential characteristics which every Const...