It is chaos and several people, including students and politicians have been arrested in Kampala today (Thursday, 21st Sept 2017), following demonstrations against the proposed bill to lift presidential age limit.
The anti riot Police deployment at Makerere University, FDC head offices, ActionAid, Parliament among other areas has stirred tension ahead of the anticipated, yet unconfirmed debate in parliament on the proposed scrapping of the president age limit from the constitution.
Apart from what is transpiring within the Capital, Kampala, social media is awash with many other initiatives.
The International Day of Peace (“Peace Day”) is elsewhere being observed today around the World.
Peace, for many Ugandans against constitutional changes especially on Article 102 (b), will remain in the shelves until “those seeking to enable Mr Museveni to run for president in 2021, having already surpassed the current age cap of 75 years, terminate efforts.”
“I think we shall celebrate it (Peace Day) next year, because today I don’t expect peace in my city,” (a one) Kabula Micheal says.
“It’s on a wrong day. Which peace are you advocating for when policemen are teargassing people,” Ochen Tonny says.
Ms Deborah Malac, The US Ambassador to Uganda said in a statement to press on Thursday “on-going arrests by security forces of opponents of the proposal to remove the presidential age limit are disturbing and whittle down the space for democratic and free expression.”
“We are disturbed by reports of raids on NGOs. Infringements on protected rights under Uganda’s Constitution will impede the country’s development. We call on the government of Uganda to guarantee all its citizens freedom of speech, expression, and assembly, without fear of intimidation,” Malac said.
marvin@ugchristiannews.com
