MPs opposed to the amendment of article 102 (b) of the 1995 constitution that intends to allow a person above 75 years of age to stand for President have provoked President Yoweri Museveni, asking him to declare his stand on the controversial issue.
Addressing journalists at Parliament on Monday, Busiro South MP Medard Sseggona said Museveni should speak out on the age limit debate because it is all about him.
“This article hasn’t been tested. Why would he (Museveni) want to change it? And let the President be man enough and say I want it so we know who to address so that he doesn’t make us fight among ourselves. Let him tell us, he wants to remove age limit for his benefit. Let him not hide like he did with term limits,” Sseggona
He added: “People who have tested exile don’t want it again and there is a looming possibility of people going to exile. There is a looming possibility of chaos in this country by making a constitution for an individual.”
The Opposition MPs were joined by NRM Rebel MPs and a few independents. These included Felix Okot, Monica Amoding, Roland Mugume, Robert Kyagulanyi, Muhammad Nsereko, Gerald Karuhanga, Theodore
Ssekikubo, Mbwatekamwa Gaffa, Jonathan Odur and Allan Ssewanyana. They were accompanied by their legal counsel Caleb Alaka.
The lawmakers had convened a last minute press conference to sound their
warning against security operatives’ arrests which they say is
targeting MPs opposed to the life presidency project.
This follows the Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Department of Police’s failure to allow Ssekikubo to a statement after officials failed to show up yet they had summoned him.
The Age Limit opponents have vowed not to step foot at CIID,
accusing the Department of wasting time for the honourable Members who
come number 17 in the position of hierarchy in Government.
Alaka defended the MPs saying: “We have been in this field defending such people for long; if you can’t talk in your own Parliament where else can you talk from? Police are being overzealous, I hope they are prepared because I can’t accept MPs to be intimidated by these illegalities.” Alaka said.
