House on fire as Kadaga suspends 6 opposition MPs

Opposition MPs in red jackets disrupt Legal committee Chairperson Oboth Oboth presenting the report. Photo by Kennedy Oryema

The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, has suspended six opposition MPs for disrupting plenary proceedings.

They are Allan Sewanyana, Semujju Nganda, Gerald Karuhanga, Mubarak Munyagwa, Jack Odur and Antony Akol. She adjourned the House to 2:00 PM when the House resumes to debate the report on Age Limit Bill.

The tense Monday morning plenary session has been characterized by interruptions from the opposition MPs which the NRM side described as derailing.

"You can win the battle in parliament but you cannot win the war outside. Ugandans do not want Museveni to change the constitution," Karuhanga said.

The Bill seeks to scrap Article 102 (b) of the 1995 Constitution that limits the age of a president to 75 years. The Bill also seeks to lower the age for presidential candidates to below the current 35, meaning an 18-year old can be president, which some people contest.

If they endorse the majority report, the Bill will go into third reading and pass. Some members of the ruling NRM party prefer a secret ballot to avoid being targeted by their constituents, who are opposed to the lifting of the presidential age limit.
To vote on the Bill, MPs will be required to vote as follows — "I vote yes," or "I vote

No" or "I abstain." For those with disabilities, the use of a recognised sign language as may be agreed upon by the House is provided for.

Unlike other Bills that have been passed by Parliament without open individual voting, the rules of procedure of Parliament, in rule 98, requires that voting on constitutional amendment like this one shall be open voting, which, in this case, is roll call and tally by the Speaker of Parliament.