Uganda’s President, Yoweri Museveni has been advised in a missive by one of the country’s outspoken top bishops to consider retiring.
Bishop Reuben Kisembo of Ruwenzori Diocese, a known critic of the proposed removal of presidential age limits, has written a missive advising President Yoweri Museveni instead retire at the end of his current term in 2021.
Bishop Kisembo, who has spoken consistently against the age limit removal, appeals to the President to lose interest in the proposal, “concentrate on serving his country faithfully as he has done and retire peacefully in 2021.”
Bishop Kisembo says those opposed to the removal of the presidential age limits are not enemies of President Museveni and Uganda.
“They appreciate him for the 31 years of his leadership and wish that he ends his services well as per the constitutional age limit. We remind the President that: “Even a good dancer leaves the stage,” he says.
The four-page statement, in which the bishop quotes heavily from the bible, describes as sad and unfortunate the fracas in Parliament on September 26 and 27th, shortly before Igara West Member of Parliament Raphael Magyezi moved a motion to table the Constitution (Amendment) Bill (No.2) of 2017.
A fist-fight ensued inside Parliament Chambers on September 27th shortly after Speaker Rebecca Kadaga suspended 25 legislators who had disrupted proceedings the previous day. Security forces later raided the House and forcefully evicted the suspended MPs, some of whom sustained injuries in the process.
Magyezi’s bill seeks, among others, to amend Article 102(b) of the constitution which caps the presidential age at 75 years. If left as it is, the clause would bar President Museveni from contesting in 2021 since he will be above 75.
Bishop Kisembo says those pushing for age limit removal should take responsibility for the chaos.
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