Age limit: Kadaga orders MPs to stop closed-door consultations
Ms Kadaga and Bukomansimbi North MP, Ms Katushabe
BUKOMANSIMBI- The Speaker of Parliament, Ms Rebecca Kadaga has advised Members of Parliament to desist from conducting closed-door consultative meetings to get views of their constituents on the proposed lifting of the presidential age limit from the Constitution.
Ms Kadaga says the proposed lifting of term limits is matter that concerns all Ugandans and wondered why some MPs especially from the ruling NRM have chosen to select a few people and local politicians to attend their consultative meetings to get the views of the people they represent.
“I ordered those (MPs) when the Bill was tabled, to go and consult their constituents on the matter before it is brought back on the floor of Parliament. That was my instruction,” Ms Kadaga said.
The speaker was speaking to journalists, shortly after presiding over a fundraising ceremony organised by Bukomansimbi North MP, Ruth Katushabe on Friday.
The fundraising is intended to raise money to construct Lusaka Health Centre III, Bigasa Sub-county, Bukomansimbi District.
During a recent NRM caucus meeting at State House, ruling NRM MPs, who back the contentious Bill, guided by the Government Chief Whip Ms Ruth Nankabirwa resolved to consult targeted groups of local leaders including local council leaders, religious leaders and “opinion” leaders.
The decision came after public consultations by some ruling NRM MPs on the proposed scrapping of presidential age limit met open hostility in several constituencies.
MPs including State minister for Tourism, Mr Godfrey Kiwanda Ssuubi (Mityana North), Ms Judith Nabakooba (Mityana Woman) and Simeo Nsubuga (Kasanda South), Maj Joseph Kakooza, Buweekula among others, were heckled in public by their electorates,accusing them of backing the ‘unpopular’ Bill.
Since then, some of them have been holding closed-door meetings in their homes and town halls amid negative reactions from the public.
Ms Kadaga decried the manner in which police are treating some legislators especially those opposed to the bill.
“Police should not chase members of Parliament. They should let them collect views of people whom they represent,” she said. “I am much concerned on this matter and I am going to write to the Minster of Internal Affairs and the Inspector General of Police.”
The debate over the lifting of age limit for President has polarized Ugandans, and recently resulted in fist-fights by MPs and an unprecedented raid by plain-clothed soldiers who arrested them from the chambers.
