As dust settles and the consequences of the 27 NRM lawmakers that voted against the constitutional amendment No. 2 bill of 2017 soon becoming known, Kasambya County MP Gaffa Mbwatekamwa and Lwemiyaga MP Theodore Ssekikubo have said they have no intention of attending today’s (Tuesday) NRM parliamentary Caucus meeting.
According Solomon Silwany, the caucus vice-chairperson, the 27 NRM lawmakers that voted against the constitutional amendment could even be expelled from the ruling party when the majority of the caucus members vote for disciplinary action then the rebel MPs are to be forwarded to the party’s disciplinary committee.
But Hon. Mbwatekamwe and Sekikubo argue that if the NRM Caucus wants them disciplined then they should blame their constituents.
“We did our part by communicating what their voters told them,” Mr. Mbwatekamwe said on Tuesday. “If NRM wants to suspend us, it should suspend our constituents.”
The MPs say they didn’t go against the party position but simply voted for what they were asked for by their voters.
Besides Mbwatekamwe and Sekikubo, some of the NRM MPs who also voted against the bill are; Hellen Kahunde, Connie Nakayenze Galiwango, Norah Bigirwa, Anthony Ssemuli, Suzan Amero, Loy Katali and Henry Maurice Kibalya. Others are Barnabas Tinkasimire , James Rugi, Sylvia Rwabwogo and Alex Ruhunda among others.
John Baptist Nambeshe, the Manjia County MP says although they are NRM Members, the caucus has been sidelining them. He says he will not appear before any disciplinary committee.
In December, parliament approved the removal of the 75 year-upper age limit for the president and reduced the lower cap to 18 years.
This has eliminated the last hurdle for President Yoweri Museveni to extend his stay in power once he clocks the 75 years age limit that was provided for in the Constitution.
