Museveni Signs The Age Limit Bill

Posted by: Kyeyune Andrew Jonathan in Uganda news January 2, 2018

President Museveni signed into law, the controversial age limit bill two days before Christmas and seven days after Parliament passed it.

Check also: MP’s Approve Removal Of Age Limits

On December 20, parliament finally passed the age limit bill in which a total of 317 MPs voted in favour of the motion to lift the age limit whereas 97 members were against.

Senior Presidential Press Secretary, Don Wanyama confirmed that Museveni signed the Bill on December 27 and it was forwarded to parliament as required.

“He assented to the bill after the speaker wrote to him. It’s now law,” Wanyama said.

“It’s a new era that does away with a law that was previously discriminative in nature,” he added.

When contacted for a comment, Chris Obore, Communications director at Parliament confirmed the development.

Delivering his end of year message at his country home in Rwakitura on Sunday evening, President Museveni praised the 317 legislators who he said beat all the odds to pass the bill despite being attacked by many people.

“I salute the 317 MPs who defied intimidation, alignment, and blackmail and opted for a flexible Constitution to deal with destiny issues of Africa,”Museveni said.

“By doing so, they played a central role like the 28 cadres of Montepuez and the 43 fighters with their 27 guns who attacked Kabamba and liberated Uganda.”

Museveni said that like the liberators of Uganda, the 232 legislators who opened up the term limits in 2005 also played a great role in shaping the destiny of the country.

Following the passing of the bill to lift the age limit that many termed as a Christmas gift to president Museveni, others argued that this paved way for his life presidency.

Many politicians especially from the opposition urged Ugandans to rise up and fight for the restoration of the constitution which they said is their noble duty to perform without any hinderance from anyone.

“Whoever resists the overthrow of the Constitution commits no offence. Even if it means taking guns, its in their power and allowed in the Constitution. We have not specified the limit of actions and whoever wishes to use violence, they are protected by the constitution. Anyone who does this commits no offence and if they are arrested, this can become obsolete when the constitution has been restored,” FDC and opposition strongman Dr.Kizza Besigye said recently.

However according to Museveni, these are just uninformed speculators who should not be left to continue with ‘their lies’.

“Liars who talk of life presidency of Museveni should be exposed. They’re uninformed, or schemers who don’t want Uganda and Africa to succeed,”

By signing the age limit Bill into law, it means anyone above the age of 75 is now eligible to stand for president .

Source: nile post

Check also;

This is not a Paywall, but Newslex Point's journalism consumes a lot of time, hard-work and money. That's why we're kindly requesting you to support us in anyway they can, for as little as $1 or more, you can support us .

Please use the button below to contribute to Newslex Point, Inc. using a credit card or via PayPal.