NRM takes age limit campaign to Soroti

NRM youth who support the removal of age limit march in Soroti town on Tuesday. Photo by Simon Peter Emwamu

Soroti- After launching their campaign in Kampala last Monday, the ruling party supporters took to the streets of Soroti Town yesterday demanding that Members of Parliament drop the proposed Constitutional amendment and instead amend the Constitution to allow Ugandans above 75 to contest for presidency.

Waving placards in support of the age limit removal, Mr Musa Oroma said: “We want the Constitution to be amended to allow people from 18 years above to be eligible to contest for presidency, but this should be after they drop the issue of land amendment.”
The youth called the Article 102b ‘discriminatory’ and the proposed land amendment “bad news” since it seeks to empower the government to seize private land.
A similar campaign has been ongoing in Katakwi District spearheaded by Usuk legislator Peter Ogwang, where pro-removal of age limit residents asked Parliament to amend the Constitution to grant Mr Museveni chance to contest for 2021 elections. The ruling party is currently gathering views of its members on yet to be proposed constitutional amendment to Article 102b.
Mr Timothy Okodan, another resident of Soroti District explained that the procession in support of the removal of age limit was guided by the fact that “there is development in the country coupled with peace and, therefore, no need to antagonise the sitting president”.

The Opposition leaders in the district are opposed to both Bills and termed the procession as an act to overthrow the rule of law in the county. They called the pro-removal of age limit campaigns a Museveni ploy to cling to power.
Mr Thomas Emadu, an Opposition activist in the district said: “It’s a pity that the State would waste taxpayers money on funding an illegality.”
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