RAPHAEL MAGYEZI TABLES THE CONTROVERSIAL AGE LIMIT BILL

By; Francis Lubega

The controversial constitutional amendment bill 2017 that seeks to amend article 102b on the presidential age limit has been tabled on the floor of Parliament this afternoon for the first reading in the absence of opposition members.

The architect who is the Igara West County MP, Raphael Magyezi was allowed to introduce the Bill just after FOUR working days and it has been seconded by several members present in the house before Rt. Hon Speaker Rebecca Kadaga and directed it to the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee chaired the West Budama Independent MP, Jacob Oboth Oboth for perusal.

The Bill has four prayers that are going to affect 5 articles in the Constitution ; the first one is looking at article 61, “(a) to provide for the time within which to hold presidential, parliamentary and local government council elections under article 61”, the eligibility of aspirants for president under articles 102 (b) and 183 (2)(b), that puts the sealing of a candidate for presidency in this country at 35 and 75 years of age.

The Bill also wants the current 10 days required for dissatisfied presidential aspirants to file petition be increased to at least 20 days in the presidential election petition under article 104 (2) and (3) and also to increase on the number of days in which the Electoral Commission is required to hold a fresh elections where a presidential election is annulled under article 104 (6) and other related matters.”

After several consultations with a number of stakeholders and public, the committee will then issue a report which shall be discussed by the Parliament during the second reading of the Bill.

Hon Raphael Magyezi said he had received over whelming support and ministry of finance had given him the certificate of financial implication, to be published and gazette by Uganda publication, the crucial requirements to process and table a bill in parliament.

Shortly before that, the Speaker Rebecca Kadage administered Oath of the newly elected Members of Parliament, the Iganga and Rukiga district woman MPs Brenda Asinde and Caroline Kamusiime respectively.

Iganaga district woman parliamentary seat fell vacant following the demise of Hon. Haliat Kaudha while Rukiga is among the newly created districts that become operational at the beginning of this financial year.