Koboko rallies behind age limit amendment
Nov 20, 2017
The voters requested the Government to improve existing health services, school and provide them with clean piped water
A section of people attending consultations over the age limit Bill at Aboku sub-county in Koboko district. Photo by Paul Kiwuuwa
The National Resistance Movement (NRM) voters in Koboko district have instructed their Woman Member of Parliament, Margret Babadiri to vote in support of the amendment of Constitutional Amendment Bill 2017.
Koboko district is bordered by South Sudan to the north, Yumbe district to the east, Maracha district to the south and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west.
The voters okayed the amendments which seek to remove the presidential age limit capped at 75 in meetings held in Midia, Kuluba, Ludara, Lobure,Duranya , Aboku and Koboko municipality council sub-counties.
Babadiri said over 3,000 people supported the amendments; in Rudara, 112 supported while 80 were against, in Lobure 800 supported five were against, In Duranya 2,500 supported 400 were against, while 605 supported in Midia while 102 were against amendment.
She revealed this in an interview with New vision at Parliament over the weekend. Babadiri said during her consultative meetings over the bill, she told the people that article 102(b) is ambiguous and discriminatory.
She told her audiences it is the reason why Parliament wants to amend that article 102(b).
"It is prudent to support the legislators to amend article 102(b) of the Constitution because it does not favour President Yoweri Museveni as alleged, but creates room for the youth, starting from the age of 18 to contest for district chairpersons or presidency .
At the moment the article restricts only people from 35 to 75 years to contest, for such elective positions," Babadiri said.
According to Babadiri, her constituencies requested the Government to improve on the existing health services, schools, provide them with clean piped water and tarmack roads.
Babadiri said the reason for her consultation is because power belongs to the people, calling for patience from those who hold dissenting views in order to maintain peace.