245 NRM Members of Parliament on Tuesday successfully endorsed a motion seeking to amend Article 102(b) of the constitution so as to remove the presidential age limit.
The article stipulates that the age of the president should be between 35 and 75 years beyond which, an individual cannot be allowed to seek re-election.
Chris Obore, the spokesperson for parliament confirmed to press that MPs voted unanimously in favor of scrapping the age cap. The issue is not yet on parliament’s agenda, he however noted.
Although President Museveni earlier said he is not “bothered” about the age limit talk and warned “of dire consequences for the political actors behind the unsanctioned debate”, critics, especially the opposition believe that this drive is aimed at seeing Museveni seek re-election in 2021.
The bill however does not only focus on the upper age limit, according to sources, it goes on to seek the scrapping of the current lower age limit too, meaning anyone aged 18 years and above can run for both parliament and the presidency.
Kumi Woman MP Monica Amoding opposed the motion together with Kampala central MP, Muhammad Nsereko, James Acidri, Felix Okot Ogong (Dokolo County) and Fred Turyamuhweza (Rujumbura County).
“No individual—only God can turn it around.”
Such were the reactions of a few Christians who took to social media on Tuesday reacting to this historical move by legislatures.
“They need guidance from God to make good, sound decisions because the lives of many people are in their hands,” (a one) Lunyolo Rosemary said.
Critics
Although some have come up to address issues related to the ‘land amendment bill, many Church leaders have not defined their stand on ‘age limit amendment.’
A few key figures come out to openly criticize, while others are declaring their support for the President.
Notably, our survey into media reports shows that this matter has to some extent been addressed more by Anglican and Catholic Church leaders with fewer Pentecostal leaders voicing their opinion.
Bishop Kisembo told URN that if the Constitution is amended, the Members of Parliament will have done a disservice to the people of Uganda. He explained that the Uganda has able people who can lead the country and should be given an opportunity as well.
Richard Lumu, the Secretary General of the Uganda Catholic Lawyers Association and at the same time the Democratic Party Deputy Legal Advisor in Uganda said “over staying in power alone creates unnecessary tension amongst the youth because they do not see route(s) of achieving the highest office in the country.”
The Pressure is on
Ms Proscovia Salaam Musumba, the former Kamuli District chairperson and founding member of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party is one of many who month complained about the undefined stand of majority religious leaders, assenting that they have chosen to serve gold not God.
“It is depressing that our religious leaders are silent. I grew in president Idd Amin’s regime. President Amin was a bully. But we had Cardinal Nsubuga from the Catholic Church, we had Janani Luwum, Archbishop of the Anglican Church, we had Bishop Festo Kivengere an evangelist of the Anglican Church. These men stood up to president Amin and told him he was taking the wrong path. A man like Archbishop Luwum paid the ultimate price, he was murdered by the regime. Where are today’s religious leaders? Their silence is deafening. They have exchanged their moral leadership for gifts from the regime. They have chosen to serve gold not God.” Ms Proscovia told one local news daily on August 7th.
cnakalungi@ugchristiannews.com
