Age limit debate: Cabinet directs security agencies to sternly act

Cabinet has directed security agencies to take action against any person alleged to be intimidating or attacking any other citizen on account of their divergent views.

In a Friday meeting, Cabinet members cited last week incident in Mubende District during the celebratiions to mark Kabaka Mutebi’s 24^th coronation anniversary where Kassanda South MP Simeo Nsubuga was attacked by a one William Ntege aka Kyuma Kyayesu on account of his view on the proposed amendment of Article 102 (b) of the Constitution. Mr Nsubuga is one of the MPs who have publically supported the amendment of provision to open the age ceiling of 75 years for presidential candidates.

Opponents of the scheme argue that it intended to benefit President Yoweri Museveni, 73, to contest again in 2021. In 2021, Mr Museveni who has been in power for 31 years will be 76 years old.

In a statement issued by Mr Frank K. Tumwebaze, the ICT and National Guidance minister, Cabinet members say cases of extreme intolerance involving actual physical attacks or assault are not only unacceptable but criminal.

THE FULL CABINET STATEMENT

Cabinet sitting on Friday 4th August 2017 discussed among other items and noted particularly with concern, the increasing wave of politically motivated intolerance among sections of the political class resulting into physical attacks on targeted people.

In particular, Cabinet took strong exception to the incident which occurred in Mubende at the celebrations to commemorate His Highness the Kabaka’s coronation where a one Ntege (aka ‘Kyuma Kyayesu ’) attacked Hon. Simeo Nsubuga in full public glare allegedly on account of the views Hon. Nsubuga holds on the proposed amendment of Article 102(b) of the Constitution being discussed in the public arena.  

Similar cases  of extreme  intolerance involving actual physical attacks and/or assault have been reported against Hon. Ibrahim Abiriga, Hon. Betty Kamya and Hon. Kahinda Otafiire. This is not only unacceptable but criminal.

Cabinet has therefore resolved the following;

1) Condemned these extreme cases of intolerance that are resulting into episodes of violence. NO one has a right to intimidate another person on account of his/her views. Government therefore cautions all those in the habit of taking the law in their hands to stop forthwith.

 Political disagreements and contestations do not need to degenerate into violence or physical confrontations. That is cowardice and criminal.

2) Directed the Police and other law enforcement agencies to firmly take action against any person alleged to be intimidating and/or attacking any other citizen on account of his/her divergent views. Nobody, Senior, Junior or Ordinary citizen is above the law.

3) Noted that the Constitution is an expression of the people’s wishes, aspirations and ethos and therefore any citizen is free to express his/her views on any matter of constitutional governance . Chapter 18 of the Constitution and specifically Article 259 provide for a mechanism of amending the Constitution and therefore gives anyone an opportunity to express him/herself and propose any amendments. It is therefore criminal for anybody to issue threats against any citizen on account of holding certain political views.

4) Encouraged Ugandans to continue freely expressing themselves in accordance with the laws of the land. Government will protect the rights of all.

5).Noted that some leaders have been going in the media to issue  threats against others with different views. Cabinet therefore Called upon the media and  all journalism practitioners to always moderate their debates within the confines of the minimum broadcasting standards. They should not allow or tolerate guests who trade insults and use threatening language bordering on violence  against others whose views  they disagree with. A democratic culture can only take  root  if every citizen is free to express him/herself without any threat from anybody.

6). Leaders of all shades of opinion are also encouraged to not stifle debate on any issue that is of interest and concern to the citizenry, as that would be negating the principles of pluralism and democratic governance.

7).Government has not yet discussed the issue of age limit as contained in article 102(b). The ongoing discussions in the public domain are citizen driven. And any Ugandan or group of Ugandans is/are free to call for any amendment in the Constitution. Government will not stifle them.

 Thank you.

Frank K. Tumwebaze

 MINISTER OF ICT AND NATIONAL GUIDANCE