The significant number of persons older than 60 years, who are vying for political positions in Uganda has revived discussions about the age limit for politicians.
Dr Joel Mirembe, a medical doctor who doubles as the secretary general of the Uganda Medical Association, says as one ages, the natural biological processes in their body cause changes that reduce their capabilities to lead.
He explains that although initially, at a young age, the biological changes are for the better, such as the growth of the brain and cognitive abilities, the opposite happens as one ages.
“With certain age limits, there is a marked decline even without disease. But if there is actually a disease factor, it becomes even worse,” he explains. Dr Mirembe also observes that there are pronounced changes in cognitive function, with memory impairment, and executive dysfunction setting in.
“This is because of very many factors. For example, I will tell you that there are studies which have shown that between, for example, age of 80 to 89, there is usually a cognitive decline even without disease of 30 to 40 percent of the original cognitive ability,” he notes.
Dr Mirembe says this gets worse with increasing age. “And when you go to 90, usually it is going to 50 percent, more than 50 percent of your cognitive function is going down. You get things like dementia, extremes of forgetfulness,” he indicates.
Dr Mirembe adds: “At least around 16 percent of people who are 80 to 84 years, usually, they have this big problem of dementia, forgetfulness. And when you have such an issue, it becomes hard to lead. Then your brain becomes smaller, in physical size. And also, you lose certain cells and those you have not lost their ability to execute their function becomes smaller.”
He notes that as the essential parts of the brain shrink, “your memory processing is also going to reduce.” Although the 1995 Constitution Article 80 doesn't have a clause on the age of the MP contestants, it says people of unsound mind are not eligible.
Dr Harvey Lehman, a professor of psychology at US-based Ohio University, noted in his report published in The Scientific Monthly, argues that some individuals without leadership capabilities can be advanced by some schemers to promote their agenda.
His report is titled ‘optimum ages for eminent leadership’. “In some instances the leader probably determines in large measure what his followers shall think and how they shall act."
In other instances, the “leader” may resemble the small boy who marches in front of a brass band, and who maintains his position of “leadership” merely by anticipating correctly the direction that the band will next take whether or not he continues to “lead,” he notes. Dr Lehman adds: “For example, it seems obvious that some political leaders follow, rather than mould, public opinion. It is probably true also that in some instances the nominal leader is not the real leader but merely the tool or the “front” of one or more schemers or pressure groups.”
Opinion
According to records from the then Constitutional Assembly, in their reasoning in March 1995 when recommending 75, which was higher than 60 for public service, one of the proponents, Prof Tarsis Kabwegyere, who was representing Igara West County, reasoned:
“...There are people who may live longer and be able to live at 80 or 85 and they are still not senile.”
