There is expected to be pandemonium as Igara South MP, Raphael Magezi moves a motion seeking leave of Parliament to introduce the Presidential Age Limit Amendment Bill today.
The bill is intended to amend article 102 (B) of the Constitution to lift the 75 year upper age limit for a presidential candidate.
The country is on tenterhooks with heavy police and military deployment in Kampala city and around Parliament to quell possible demonstrations and running battles between pro and anti-age limit lifting groups.
The bill is perceived by the general public as another manoeuvre to allow President Yoweri Museveni who has been in power since 1986 to continue his rule past 2021 when he will have exceeded the 75-year age limit for a presidential candidate as the Constitution currently stipulates.
Opposition MPs plot unearthed
Matooke Republic understands that MPs opposed to the lifting of the presidential age limit are going to use everything in their power to ensure that the motion isn’t tabled in Parliament. They understand that NRM has the numbers and they will have their way if the matter is subjected to a vote. “They won’t read that bill, we shall use everything within our power to distract them,” one of the MPs we talked to said.
Apparently, the MPs are ready to capture the bill and tear it before it is read. They are also planning to disrupt the house by throwing shoes, microphones, books or anything they get their hands on. Their ultimate plan is to disrupt the day’s proceedings.
It is said their actions in the house can only be handled by the chief whip’s office and rules committee as Parliament is privileged and they cannot be prosecuted basing on their “misconduct” in the house.
However, some of the anti-age limit lifting MPs might not be able to attend the sitting as they have been recalled to the CID Headquarters. MPs Mohammad Nsereko and Allan Ssewanyana first appeared before CID on Tuesday to answer charges of inciting violence and offensive remarks over their statements in regards to lifting the age limits. Nsereko while addressing the press last week said it was going to be bloody and that they (anti age limit lifting MPs) had gone to the gym. Other MPs Theodore Ssekikuubo and Monica Amoding snubbed the Police summons.
Fellow legislator Odonga Otto who represented the MPs as their counsel at CID said the Thursday summons were a state ploy to keep them out of the contentious debate. Our sources tell us the MPs will adhere to the police summons much later in the day after Parliament sits, but sources say Police is also ready to arrest them.
The plan to get physical has already been displayed as MP Bernard Atiku squared off with pro age limit lifting MP Ibrahim Abiriga on Tuesday afternoon. It took the intervention of policemen to separate the two legislators who had locked horns. Abiriga who was on the receiving end was later seen drinking mineral water to cool off.
Tumultuous week
The anti-age limit lifting tempo has been rising since the beginning of the week. On Monday a group calling themselves Kalic (Keep Age Limit In the Constitution) went around distributing flyers in downtown Kampala, preaching their message using megaphones. It didn’t take the police long to arrest about seven of the members who were wearing white overalls with their message emblazoned at the back.
Religious leaders also weighed in on the impasse under their umbrella of the Inter Religious Council of Uganda, calling for the matter to be subjected to a referendum.
Last evening, two NGOs, ActionAid Uganda and Great Lakes Institute For Strategic Studies were besieged by police which was apparently investigating information that they received money to fund (unspecified) unlawful activities. The two civil society organisations have been vocal against lifting age limits.
Security on high alert
Meanwhile, security agencies have beefed up deployment in Kampala and other parts of the country to quell possible demonstrations. There has been heavy deployment around Parliament to prevent protesters from accessing the premises and Military Police has been camped at the Constitutional Square since the beginning of the week.
Police also deployed at headquarters of the Democratic Party that is behind the anti-age limit lifting protests dubbed “Kogikwatako.”
There are also several sniffer dogs at Parliament.
Police chief Gen. Kale Kayihura defended the heavy security deployment. “Some people want to disturb the peace of the Parliament. Parliament must transact its business in peace, but people want to march to Parliament without even clearance from Parliament or even the Police,” Kayihura said after meeting Deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanyah on Tuesday over the security situation around the house.
Matooke Republic understands that some MPs behind the bill have been granted police protection to prevent the public from attacking them.
Kayihura bans processions
The police boss also issued a statement banning processions of either side on Thursday. This move comes after FDC delivered letters to police and Parliament indicating that they plan to deliver a petition to the Speaker of Parliament today.
There has also been heavy criticism over police dispersing anti age limit lifting protesters while giving protection to pro age limit lifting processions across the country.
“Police has credible information that there are groups using the cover of the processions who intend to cause violence and mayhem, particularly in the city including targeting Parliament,” Kayihura said.
Kayihura advised that they should use other means of expression like TV networks, radio and other forms of electronic communication and print media or indoor meetings.
The anti-riot police is ready in case Kayihura’s order is defied.