Chaos, drama and tension at Parliament continues as a sect of legislatures reignite the push for the Constitution Amendment (No 2) Bill,2017, which seeks to amend Article 102 (b) to remove the lower and upper presidential age limits of 35 and 75 years.
Raising a point of national importance, Ibanda North representative Maj Guma Gumisiriza among other NRM MPS on Tuesday expressed desire for legislators to pass the bill before the House adjourns for Christmas, noting “this is a good Christmas package to Ugandans.”
“Amending a Constitution is absolutely healthy. Passing age limit bill will give a good Christmas package to Ugandans,” Maj Guma Gumisiriza said.
“Leave the matter to the NRM. We have the numbers;we have the capacity. When the time comes, we shall change leaders,” Security Minister, Lt Gen Henry Tumukunde said.
Dr. Chris Baryomunsi (NRM, Kinkizi East) said: There is no scientific evidence to show that at 75 years, someone lacks the capacity to lead.
To differ from her counterparts, Justine Khainza (NRM, Bududa district) said deleting age limit is against democracy.
Notably, a survey conducted and published earlier this month by civil society organizations claimed that 85 per cent of Ugandans do not support the proposed constitutional amendment to lift caps on the presidential age.
The findings indicate that 95 per cent of citizens in the eastern, 86 percent in northern, 76 per cent in western and 66 per cent in Buganda (central) region do not support the proposed age limit removal.
Although this report drew criticism from the ruling party, the Great Lakes Institute for Strategic Studies (GLiSS) executive director Godber Tumushabe who presented the survey findings at Olive Gardens, Bugolobi said it shows Ugandans are unanimously opposed to the constitutional amendment.
By staff writer.
