Constitution amendment: Uganda lawmakers exchange blows again

Chaos has rocked the Uganda Parliament for the second time after a minister and 25 members disagreed over the move to change the constitution to allow the president run for a re-election.

Lawmakers exchanged blows, kicks and even threw chairs at one another.

According to reports, two female lawmakers were rushed out of the hall to the hospital.

Police and the military had also battled various demonstrators in different towns, leading to the arrest of several people.

 

Uganda has remained restive over the proposed Constitutional amendment, seen as a significant step towards securing a free run for President Yoweri Museveni to seek re-election in 2021.

The age limit motion is largely seen as a piece of legislation seeking to allow incumbent President Yoweri Museveni to stay in power. The 73-year-old will be ineligible to stand by 2022 when next polls are held.

Under Uganda’s current laws, a person above the age of 75 cannot vie for the office of president.

Museveni, a former soldier, has been democratic president of the country for over two decades.

In 2005, a constitutional amendment was made removing the two-term limit for the presidency to allow the president to run for a third-term which he won in February last year, even though opposition unsuccessfully contested the outcome. Punch