CSOs want Museveni to take a stand on age limit debate

Jul 21, 2017

A cross section of NRM members resolved to promote the proposal to remove the presidential age limit

FIDA Uganda CEO, Irene Ovonji Odida (L) addresses the media at FHRI offices Nsambya. Photo by Ronnie Kijjambu

The civil society has asked President Yoweri Museveni to take a stand and assure the country that he is not interested in the planned proposal to lift the presidential age limit, currently capped at 75 years.

On Wednesday, Museveni told journalists at State House in Entebbe that there was no proposal by the government to lift the age limit, describing the debate on age limit as a mere speculation.

However in a joint press conference at the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI) in Nsambya, Kampala today, members of the civil society organizations (CSOs) demanded that Museveni declares to the country that he is not interested in having the presidential age limit lifted despite calls to have it lifted by the NRM party members.

"Let him come out and deny that he is not interested,  if he is sure, these people are not speaking for him, let him say these are enemies of Uganda," FIDA-Uganda president Irene Ovonji said.

A cross section of National Resistance Movement (NRM) party members, on Tuesday resolved to embark on a countrywide campaign to promote the proposal to remove the presidential age limit.

The CSOs indicated that amending Article 102 (b) of the Constitution, to lift the age limit would cause political instability in the country.

 executive director r ivingstone sewanyana castigated governments move to amend the land law hoto by onnie ijjambuFHRI executive director, Dr. Livingstone Ssewanyana castigated government's move to amend the land law. Photo by Ronnie Kijjambu

"This is not a personal attack on the person of President Museveni, but we are looking at the generations to come. The age limit is the only safeguard this country is left with," Dr. Livingstone Ssewanyana the FHRI executive director said.

Land acquisition

The CSOs also bashed the government on the proposed amendment of Article 26 of the Constitution to enable government takeover private land without prior compensation, saying it is unconstitutional.

They noted that there is need to ensure prior compensation of members of the public before the government can make use of their property such as land.

"These proposals are unconstitutional and we are ready to oppose them. No one can intimidate us, we are going to sensitize Ugandans on why they should oppose these amendments," Henry Ogwal from ActionAid Uganda said.

The government recently tabled the Constitutional (Amendment) Bill 2017 which has since been forwarded to the parliamentary committee on legal and parliamentary affairs for scrutiny, to amend Article 26 of the Constitution and pave way for compulsory acquisition of private land for government projects such as road construction. 

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});