Police foil age limit meeting in Kampala 

Muwanga Kivumbi talking to Katwe Police boss Frantile Lwamusai after Police blocked them from holding a meeting at Muganzirwazza in Katwe, Kampala. Photos by Ramadhan Abbey

Police have blocked Muwanga Kivumbi, the Butambala County Member of Parliament from holding a consultative meeting on the age limit Bill.

The Opposition MP had organised a one-day meeting to consult residents in Katwe, Makindye division, Nsambya and Ndeeba.

The constitutional amendment Bill seeks among other issues to scrap the age limit for presidential candidates from the Constitution.

The private member Bill was tabled in the House by Igara West MP Raphael Magyezi.

Police led by Katwe Police station boss Frantile Lwamusai stormed the venue at Muganzirwazza Mall in Katwe and ordered the organisers to vacate the premises.

Lwamusai told the press that the Opposition leaders had not notified the Police on their activities.

"They did not write to us before organising these activities, but when they formalise and notify the Police, the meeting will take place on a later date," he said.

The executive director of FIDA Irene Ovonji-Odida with Jeff Wandulo showing a letter to Frantile Lwamusai that allows them to hold a meeting

Muwanga Kivumbi the convener of the meeting said they had followed the procedures under the Public Order Management act and wondered why Police blocked their meeting.

"We wrote a letter to Police through the Inspector General of Police and they received it, but we wonder why they turn around and block us," he said.

Kivumbi who is also the chairperson of the parliamentary forum on human rights and rule of law said that Police's actions were breaching the law on Public Order Management.

"We all know that the act is bad, but in Opposition we have tried to adhere and the Police is doing otherwise. How can one foil an indoor meeting?" Kivumbi wondered.

Speaker Rebecca Kadaga recently sent the MPs to seek the views of the people on the bill, which is now before the committee of Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.

But Police told MPs to only consult within their constituencies.