Former presidential candidate Dr Abed Bwanika has said that the electoral commission has allowed him to collect signatures from Ugandans who oppose scrapping of presidential age limit.
Speaking to journalists Saturday evening, Bwanika said that when he approached the electoral commission officials, he was asked to get only 1.5million signatures so that they can organise a referendum to enable Ugandans vote on age limit bill.
“Even if the parliamentarians decides otherwise, what will have come from the referendum will be the final decision,” Bwanika said
He argued that despite the task seeming big, he will inject in money because a president is voted by all Ugandans and leaving the bill to MPs only would be unfair.
However, while appearing on NBS yesterday , Kampala Lord Mayor Erius Lukwago said this referendum may be a wastage of time because it will be organised by the same government that wants presidential age limit lifted.
“When MPs said lets press on this button [try to fail the tabling of age limit bill], you saw what happened. SFC entered and you know what followed. For joint opposition rallies, you know what is happening but to me that button they have pressed [of a referendum] may be fruitless because Museveni and his friends can’t be trusted when it comes to holding a referendum,” Lukwago remarked.
However, Matooke Republic understands that article 102( b) that talks about presidential age limit is not among those that can be amended through a referendum. This article only needs 2/3 of MPs to either support or oppose its removal.
By press time, NRM, whose majority legislators seem in favour of lifting the age limit, could not be reached for a comment about Bwanika’s move.