BESIGYE RALLIES PEOPLE IN BUGISU TO CHALLENGE AGE LIMIT REMOVAL

By; Francis Lubega

Former presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye has urged voters in Bugisu region to insist on their Members of Parliament never to support the removal of presidential age limit.

While canvassing votes for the Forum for Democratic Change candidate, Doreen Bukhaweka for woman parliamentary seat scheduled for September 21 in Bukhaweka sub County in Namisindwa district, Besigye advised voters to use their constitutional mandate and numbers to stop the amendments to Article 102 (b) which would allow President Museveni to extend his term of office in 2021.

He urged cultural, religious and the youth to join the campaign against the plot adding that citizens have a duty to uphold and defend the country from selfish leaders.

Already some NRM MPs yesterday September 13^th who include; Felix Okot Ogong of Dokolo, Theodore Ssekikubo (Lwemiyaga), BarnabasTinkasimiire of Buyaga West and Nambesh John Baptist of Njiya accompanied by Independents Mohamed Nsereko of Kampala Central and Vincent Nuwagaba of Ndorwa East,publically vowed to fight what they termed as betrayal by fellow MPs who convened this Monday at parliament and agreed to move a motion and support a private members bill on lifting the presidential age clause, urging votes to shun and stop them from attending public functions.

This follows a mini NRM caucus called by the Minister for Investment Evelyn Anite and Igara County West MP Raphael Magyezi on September 11^th , debated and resolved to move a motion to the floor of parliament next Thursday to open the age limit for the presidential, Vice president and the district chairpersons to start at 18 years of age to infinite.

However during a press briefing at State House Entebbe last evening President Museveni on the same point explained that the law sets guidelines on how the Constitution can be amended and MPs will follow the same process.

Already 277 have signed a document in support of the amendment left with only three legislators out of the 427 members in the 10^th parliament. They also claim to be intimidated by those opposed to the amendment and have alerted the security.