Clerics in Kabarole district have rallied the people of Tooro to reject the proposed scrapping of article 102 (b) from the constitution.
The religious leaders led by Bishop Robert Muhirwa of Fort Portal Diocese told residents at a consultative meeting held on Monday afternoon at Buhinga play ground in Fort Portal that removing the presidential age limit is a precursor for bloodshed.
Muhirwa said that there was a reason why the framers of the 1995 constitution restricted the presidential age limit at between 35 and 75 years of age, saying they should be respected.
Muhirwa also asked President Yoweri Museveni to respect the oath he took of defending, preserving and protecting the constitution. He cautioned Museveni against listening to only those in support of the amendment but also the views of the elders and religious leaders.
WHY
For more than thirty years, the support for President Yoweri Museveni and the National Resistance Movement- NRM party in the Tooro region has been enormous. Since the 1996 elections, the region has overwhelmingly voted for Museveni and his party with 90 percent.
However, the proposed amendment of article 102 (b) of the constitution has brought a new wave, telling a completely different story from the region. The people of Tooro especially those in Kabarole district have unanimously agreed to reject the amendment that seeks to remove the 75-year presidential age cap from the constitution.
Bishop Reuben Kisembo, of Ruwenzori Diocese, Bishop Robert Muhiirwa of Fort Portal Diocese, Alex Ruhunda, the Member of Parliament Fort Portal Municipality and Sylvia Rwabwogo, the Kabarole Woman MP have openly come out to rebuke the move.
Two weeks ago, the Tooro Elders’ Forum, a group of eminent persons in Tooro also demanded that the age limit bill is dropped. A section of district councillors and youths have equally shared the same views.
Masses, who attended a consultative meeting organized by area MPs at Buhinga Playground, also rejected the amendment.
