Government Chief Whip Ruth Nankabirwa has scoffed at National Resistance Movement (NRM) party members who are pushing for a constitutional amendment to lift presidential age limits.
A number of legislators are reported to be making financial demands in order to market the ‘project’ to make President Yoweri Museveni eligible to contest for the presidency when his current term ends. The Ugandan constitution limits the age of the president to 75.
Born in 1944, President Yoweri Museveni will hit the limit before 2021, the year Uganda will hold the next presidential election.
There have been reports of negotiations between legislators and the President to fund the campaign for a resolution of parliament on the matter. But Chief Whip Ruth Nankabirwa told journalists this afternoon that it would be dangerous for any legislator to approach her demanding for money to support the lifting of the age limit.
She however noted that apart from reading about the allegation in newspapers, no MP has approached her to ask for money.
But Nankabirwa confirmed that there are many interested parties in the lifting of the presidential age limit which has caused excitement between those for and against the suggestion, even within the NRM party.
She however noted that the discussion on age limit is not on the party’s agenda for the planned Kyankwanzi retreat.
“Constitutional amendments will have their time and correct forum for discussion. They will emanate from the minister to probably the NRM caucus for mobilization, then to cabinet and later parliament.” Nankabirwa said.
Mr Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, is serving what was seen as likely to be his last five-year term after winning the elections in February. His current term will expire in 2021.
But some leaders within the ruling party have been quietly mobilising for the removal of the age cap, to allow Mr Museveni, who turns 72 in September, to extend his stay. If the amendment succeeds, it will be the last major hurdle for the veteran president having successfully overseen the removal of term limits in 2005.
