Security beefed up in Uganda ahead of controversial vote to scrap presidential age limit

KAMPALA, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Ugandan security agencies were heavily deployed in capital Kampala and surrounding major towns Tuesday to prevent any violent protest ahead of a vote on a controversial amendment bill that seeks to scrap the presidential age limit of 75 years.

Frank Mwesigwa, Kampala Metropolitan Police Commander, told reporters that the police, military and other sister security agencies have been deployed in the capital, especially around the parliament, key strategic installations and major towns following credible information that some opposition members were planning to disrupt the vote.

Mwesigwa said police has intelligence that there are plans by those opposed to the bill to attack legislators who support the bill.

Opposition party leaders have called upon their supporters and members of the public to march in big numbers to parliament in solidarity with the legislators opposed to the bill to prevent the vote.

Opposition legislators and campaigners opposed to the bill argue that the move by the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party is intended to allow incumbent President Yoweri Museveni, now 73, to run in the 2021 elections when he will be over 75.

NRM legislators on the parliamentary legal committee have recommended a constitutional amendment to scrap the 75-year-old age limit for presidents. They also recommend extending the presidential and parliamentary term of office from the current five to seven years. Enditem