Forum for Democratic Change spokesman, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda has called upon religious leaders to lead the campaign aimed at safeguarding the constitution of Uganda from lawmakers who last week agreed to table a bill to remove rules barring anyone over the age of 75 from running for the country’s highest office.
Mr Ssemujju, who is also Kira municipality MP, says age limit agitators are just hunting for fortunes much as they appreciates the danger of life presidency.
Recorded history, according to Mr Ssemujju, showcases Church efforts against removal of presidential term limits in several African counties.
“In Zambia, the population was able to stop President Fredrick Chiluba in 2001 from changing the Constitution to remove presidential term limits because it allowed the Church to lead the campaign,” Mr Ssemujju says.
“Unlike ours, the Church in Zambia took up the fight to safeguard presidential term limits as a Godly project. First, the Christian Council of Zambia, the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia and the Zambia Episcopal Conference drafted a declaration pleading with Chiluba not to change the Constitution,” he explains.
“The Church organized and even led demonstrations. The Church had played a similar role to end Kenneth Kaunda’s life presidency project. In fact, the pulpit became the main platform against Kaunda’s hold onto power,” he adds. “The Church played the same role in stopping Malawi’s Bakili Muluzi. Muluzi threatened the Church not to interfere with politics but they didn’t relent.”
Mr Ssemujju says an opportunity to stop the life presidency has availed itself and all related stake holders must cautiously seize it.
cnakalungi@ugchristiannews.com
