Buganda Kingdom is calling on the central Government to allow Ugandans determine their destiny, in regard to the Presidential age limit bill currently before the legal committee of Parliament.
The Katikiro of Buganda Charles Peter Mayiga, while addressing the Kingdom Parliament – The Lukiiko – at Bulange Mengo on Monday said the removal of the Presidential age limit is not a partisan issue, to be monopolised by politicians or Members of Parliament.
The Katikiro says People have divergent views on the matter, hence the need to soberly listen to all sides, without favouring one side and intimidating the other.
Currently, many Ugandans are engaged in a fierce debate over the Constitutional Amendment Bill, 2017, that seeks, among other proposals, to remove the age limit caps for presidential candidates.
The Constitution in its current form bars people who are less than35 years and above 75 years from contesting for presidency.
Unless it is amended, President Yoweri Museveni, 73, will not qualify to contest in 2021 because he would be 77 years old.
Proponents of the bill say, Mr Museveni, who has been in power for 31 years, should be given another “opportunity” to contest again in 2021 and lead the country for another 5-year term.
Opponents of the proposal say the culture of changing the Constitution to benefit one individual should be stopped.
Mr Museveni, who had many months back dismissed the Members of Parliament who were pushing for the lifting of the age limit, now says the age caps are discriminatory.
