Members of the Uganda Young Democrats-UYD have today launched a new campaign to block the constitutional amendment on the presidential age.
The campaign will involve a procession to parliament every Tuesday by teams dressed in red and engagements with the legal and parliamentary affairs committee. The committee has the mandate to scrutinize the bill and collect public views within the next 45 days.
UYD Finance Secretary Isaac Mando told journalists in Kampala that they will dress in red ahead of the Kampala Capital City Carnival, ahead of the October 9 independence day celebration in Bushenyi district, and as they head to Namboole Stadium for the World Cup qualifier between Uganda Cranes and Ghana on Saturday.
Mando adds that the protest also seeks to express disgust with the brutality meted against Members of Parliament, activists and other Ugandans who are challenging the constitutional amendment. They fault security agencies for conniving to stifle debate on the presidential age limit.
UYD Spokesperson Denis Tumuhaire says that they hope to sensitize Ugandans and alert them on the implication of lifting the presidential age. He says that although Uganda is due to celebrate its independence, the brutality exhibited by the state shows otherwise.
Bwete Bob, the Organizing secretary of UYD, says they will fight tooth and nail to preserve what is left of the 1995 constitution.
