Igara West NRM youth disown MP Magyezi

MP Magyezi, the man at the centre of the age limit controversy. File photo

What you need to know:

  • The controversial amendment, which among others seeks to lift the upper and lower age limit cap on prospective candidates, is before the Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs for scrutiny.

  • The Parliamentary Commission has since facilitated MPs with Shs29 million to conduct consultations with their constituents for two weeks before they revert to the House.

Igara West Member of Parliament, Mr Raphael Magyezi, who is behind the controversial move to lift the presidential age limit, has been disowned by the area National Resistance Movement Youth League Chairperson, Mr Bukuri Kakooza over the Constitution Amendment Bill 2017.

Mr Kakooza took a swipe at Mr Magyezi, who introduced a private member’s Bill seeking to lift the presidential age limit, for “misrepresenting us.”

“We were never consulted by Raphael and he should stop lying to Ugandans and causing problems to us that people mainly youth from Igara West want our Constitution to be touched on [amended],” Mr Kakooza said during a news conference.

Mr Kakooza said before Mr Magyezi tabled a private member’s Bill, he should have consulted the constituents prior to introducing it, saying he is doing it “alone, probably with his family members.”

Mr Kakooza, who was flanked by another youth league member, Mr Yoweri Bakananuka said since the introduction of the bill, the MP has been elusive and always feigns foreign trips to avoid meeting electorates.

“Whenever we call him, he claims to be out of the country, saying he will come to us, but he has never consulted any one about the age limit,” said Mr Kakooza.

He warned the MP to be careful about the interests of his voters because someone is using him as a conduit.

“We want to remind our brother Raphael that we don’t think the regime loves or wants him, but he is just being used and one day they will dump him and Ugandans will be our witnesses,” said Mr Kakooza.

The controversial amendment, which among others seeks to lift the upper and lower age limit cap on prospective candidates, is before the Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs for scrutiny.

The Parliamentary Commission has since facilitated MPs with Shs29 million to conduct consultations with their constituents for two weeks before they revert to the House.