As the debate on the presidential age limit continues in the public domain, religious leaders under their umbrella organisation, The Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU) have rejected an invitation by the legal and parliamentary affairs committee to discussion the age limit Bill.
The clerics have said they will not debate on the subject again following their September 12 press release.
They now join the growing list of related stake holders who since the legal and parliamentary affairs committee was instituted on 31 October declined to appear as requested. These include former Prime Minister Prof. Apolo Nsimbabi, Former presidential candidates Kizza Besigye, Abed Bwanika and Norbert Mao, Makerere University School of Law lecturers among others.
Speaking during a press conference held on 18th, September 2017, at the IRCU headquarters in Kampala, the religious leaders said that, the current debate on the removal of the presidential age limit is not a partisan issue to be monopolized by politicians and/or Members of Parliament (MPs).
Their call comes days after some MPs from the ruling party, NRM convened on September 12 and passed on a resolution to amend Article 102 (b) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, which bars individuals below the age of 35 and beyond 75 years from vying for presidency and other district top political positions.
Calling for a referendum, religious leaders noted that the people have divergent views on the matter, hence the need to soberly listen to all sides without favoring one side and intimidating the other.
“The issue of ‘age limit’ together with ‘term limit’ should be entrenched and added on the agenda of the proposed National Dialogue so that their removal requires a referendum,” said Sheikh Mubajje adding that the MPs supporting or opposing age limit should first seek advice and opinions from their constituents.
The declaration by the religious leaders was signed by the Archbishop of Kampala Archdiocese, Most Rev. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Stanley Ntagali and the President of the Seventh Day Adventists among other church leaders.
marvin@ugchristiannews.com
