Anite's resolve on age limit: We have the army

Sep 15, 2017

Article 102(b) of the Constitution sets the age limit for presidential candidates at between 35 and 75 years.

State minister for privatisation and investment Evelyn Anite 
 
NRM lawmakers have said they cannot be intimidated by the Opposition over their plans to lift the presidential age limit.
 

The MPs said on Thursady that they will table their proposal before the party parliamentary caucus to seek its position before they move a private members' Bill to amend the Constitution.

On Tuesday, sections of NRM MPs called for a meeting that resolved to immediately table a private members' constitutional amendment Bill to, among others, scrap the presidential age limit.

Article 102(b) of the Constitution sets the age limit for presidential candidates at between 35 and 75 years.

 The Thursday meeting held at Parliament was chaired by NRM parliamentary commissioner Arinaitwe Rwakajara, (Workers MP). Peter Ogwang (Usuk County), Robinah Nabbanja (Kakumiro Woman) and state minister for privatisation and investment Evelyn Anite attended.
"The issue needs consultation of the NRM caucus to agree on the party position with the chairman of the NRM party, President Yoweri Museveni," Anite said.
 
Responding to what she termed as intimidation from the anti-age limit MPs, Anite said: "Let them know that we are the party in power and we have the majje (army)."

Jinja West MP Grace Moses Balyeku, said NRM as a party needs to discuss the issue before the private members Bill can be initiated. Asked when the caucus will sit, Anite said: "NRM can cause a party caucus within 24 hours as agreed, we expect it to sit anytime from now."

The move by the NRM MPs was widely criticised by Opposition MPs and some section of MPs within the ruling party who described it as unfortunate and stage-managed by a few individuals.

Rwakajara, said: "We have decided to move without the Government because the court observed that the late amendment of electoral laws has a negative effect on the conduct of elections," he said.

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