Speaker Rebecca Kadaga has suspended 25 legislators opposed to the scrapping of Article 102 (b) from the Constitution that bars people who are above 75 years from contesting for president.
In an unexpected turn of events, Hon. Kadaga gave orders to the rowdy group to exit the house immediately.
TheUgandan understands that the MPs in question have refused and the House has been suspended for 30mins.
Those suspended include; Allan Ssewanyana, Robert Kyagulanyi, Maureen Amoding, Sam Lyomoki, Moses Kasibante, Betty Nambooze, Francis Zaake, Ibrahim Kasozi, Nzaavu, G. Oulanya Odonga Otto, Nandala Mafabi, Mubaraka Munyagwa, John Baptist Nambeshe, Kaginda Roland Mugume , Jospeh Ssewungu, Barnabas Tinkasiimire, Muwanga Kivumbi and Medard Ssegonna.
What is obvious is that Parliament can’t resume today, MPs will have no where to sit as many of the seats are destroyed. Some of the green seats in parliament have been destroyed as the fight intensifies as seen in video via NTV.
VIDEO: Security officers forcefully evict @HEBobiwine & A. Ssewanyana from the house after directive from Speaker kadaga. #NTVNEWS #Agelimit pic.twitter.com/9tesE1FNWr
— NTV UGANDA (@ntvuganda) September 27, 2017
Why the MPs are fighting
The move to jettison the age limit is seen as an effort by President Yoweri Museveni, who at 73 is ineligible to run for re-election in 2021, to extend his rule. Museveni himself has ducked the question of whether he is interested in more time in office, saying recently that the matter is not so important.
But critics say behind the scenes he is orchestrating the move by lawmakers to remove the last hurdle to extend his presidency, possibly to rule for life.
The NRM enjoys an overwhelming majority in the national assembly and the bill is expected to pass despite the spirited efforts of some opposition lawmakers who wear red bandanas as a sign of what they say is their resistance to the long rule of Museveni.
Heavy security was deployed in the top urban centers, and police fired tear gas and arrested scores Tuesday and today who demonstrated their opposition to ongoing efforts to remove the age limit from the constitution.
The United States urged Uganda’s government to protect basic freedoms “without fear of intimidation,” and Amnesty International said authorities “must end their absurd attempts to silence people opposed to scrapping the presidential age limit.”
