PM Rugunda warns religious leaders over age limit talk

Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda has cautioned religious leaders in Uganda to tread carefully on matters to do with the proposed removal of the presidential age limit.
"Religious leaders should go slow on the words they say about the age limit bill. We have capacity to shut them down," Dr Rugunda said.
Dr Rugunda was on Thursday addressing National Resistance Movement (NRM) party leaders of Kanungu District at Kanungu District Council hall.

Dr Rugunda who is accompanied by the state minister for Housing, Dr Chris Baryomunsi; the state minister for Planning, David Bahati and former Information and National Guidance minister, Jim Muhwezi is currently traversing Kigezi region to popularize the proposed removal of the presidential age limit from the constitution.
The proposed bill to amend article 102 (b) of the constitution was tabled by Igara West MP, Raphael Magyezi and seeks to among other things, remove age restrictions on the person seeking to contest for presidency. The provision restricts the president's age to between 35 and 75years.
However, those opposed to the bill say it’s intended to pave way for president Museveni to run for another term of office in 2021 since he will be above 75.

Dr Rugunda accuses religious leaders of foregoing their roles of preaching about peace and love to the citizens and resorting to condemning those in favour of the proposed removal of age limit.
“Statements by some religious leaders about age limit amendment divert people and creates confusion, Dr Rugunda added.”

The warning comes just days after Kinkizi Diocese Bishop Dan Zoreka questioned the timing of the age limit bill saying it was ill intentioned.
Several other religious leaders including Bishop Robert Muhiirwa Akiiki of Fort Portal Catholic Diocese, Bishop Reuben Kisembo Amooti of the Anglican diocese of Ruwenzori and Rev.Fr.Gaetano Batanyenda, the parish priest of Kitanga catholicchurch in Kabale diocese have come out openly to oppose the amendment of article 102(b).

During the meeting, local leaders accused the government for neglecting the upgrading of major roads that connect Kanungu to other areas. They also accused the government for keeping a deaf ear on upgrading health units in the district.
Godfrey Karabenda, the Mayor for Kanungu town council expressed dissatisfaction at government failure to tarmac Hamurwa-Kanungu, Kihihi road that is currently in a very sorry state.
“It is very unfortunate to find that Prime Minister and his team chose to travel to Kanungu by air instead of using road so as to see how Hamurwa,Kanungu-Kihiihi road and Rukungiri-Kanungu road are impassible,” he said.

Dr Baryomunsi, who is also the Kinkiizi East County MP also decried empty promises by the government on the tarmacking major roads in the district.
In his response, Dr Rugunda said that government is in the process of considering all challenges affecting Kanungu for a possible solution.
The premier also warned Mr James Kaberuka, the MP for Kinkiizi West County to restrain himself from campaigning against the proposed amendment.

“Hon Kaberuka must revise and stop decampaigning the removal of age limit, or else face a disciplinary committee of NRM party," he warned.

Mr Kaberuka did not attend the meeting.