Ugandan parliament starts debate on removing presidential age limit

KAMPALA, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Ugandan Parliament on Monday started debate on the controversial bill that seeks to remove the presidential age limit of 75 years.

Jacob Oboth Oboth, chairperson of the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, tabled the committee report after conducting inquires on the proposed Constitutional amendment that the opposition says is aimed at favoring President Yoweri Museveni.

If passed, the bill will allow Museveni, now 73, to run in the 2021 elections when he will be over 75.

The legislators are expected to debate and complete the voting on the bill before they break off for the festive holiday recess this week.

"It is expected that we shall debate today (Monday) and tomorrow (Tuesday). Let us be tolerant to each other during this debate. At the end members will vote for and against the bill," said Rebecca Kadaga, Speaker of Parliament.

The committee report recommended that the presidential age limit be lifted while the minority report also presented before Parliament said it should stay.

The Inspector General of Police, Gen. Kale Kayihura on Sunday said the police and military have been deployed around the capital Kampala and major towns to prevent any violence ahead of the debate.

Kayihura also banned the opposition and public demonstrations and processions to parliament to prevent the debate and vote on the bill.

In September this year, there was a brawl in Parliament between the ruling National Resistance Movement party and the opposition when the motion to lift the presidential age limit was tabled. Enditem