Six Ugandan opposition legislators suspended as debate to vote on presidential age limit begins

KAMPALA, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Speaker of the Ugandan Parliament Rebecca Kadaga has suspended six opposition legislators over their conduct during the debate on the vote to remove the presidential age limit.

Kadaga suspended Opposition Chief Whip, Ibrahim Ssemujju, his colleagues Mubarak Munyagwa, Allan Ssewanyana, Anthony Akol, David Odur and Gerald Karuhanga for alleged heckling, disruptions and protesting to prevent the tabling of the Constitutional amendment bill to amend Article 102 (b) to remove the presidential age limit of 75 years.

"These members have been suspended and will not attend the next plenary sittings," said Kadaga.

Rachael Magyezi, the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) legislator and Jacob Oboth, chairperson of the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs committee on Monday moved and tabled the constitutional amendment bill to allow legislators to debate and vote on the bill amidst high tensions and heavy security.

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

Opposition and campaigners are opposed to the bill, arguing that the move by the ruling NRM 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. Enditem