Parliament approves removal of presidential age limits, term limits reinstated

Members of Parliament yesterday approved the removal of the upper cap of the presidential age limit from the Constitution and reduced the lower cap to 18 years. 

The move has now eliminated the last hurdle for President Museveni to seek reelection when his term of office ends in 2021. He is now aged 73, and will be eligible for another term of office.

The endorsement came after majority MPs supported the amendment of Article 102(b) of the Constitution that provided for the presidential age limits between 35 years and 75 years. This was in a sitting Chaired by Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga.

The Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee chaired by West Budama South MP Jacob Oboth-Oboth recommended for the removal of the upper presidential age limit and a reduction of the lower limit to 18 years which are the set limit for a Ugandan to vote.

This was one of the committee's recommendations on the Constitutional (Amendment) (No.2) Bill tabled by Igara West MP Raphael Magyezi.

Meanwhile, with the amendment of Article 102(b) Parliament also approved the reinstatement and entrenchment of presidential term limits in the Constitution as recommended by the committee. Term limits were lifted by parliament in 2005.

The two Presidential Term Limits had been imposed in Article 105 (2) and were removed through the Constitution (Amendment) Act, No.11 of 2005.

With the entrenchment of term limits now, they can now only be removed from the Constitution through a referendum.

However after the approval of this reinstatement, Deputy Attorney General Mwesigwa Rukutana took to the floor saying that the reasons why parliament has removed the age limits is that same reason why term limits were removed in September 2005.

He pleaded with Speaker Kadaga to reconsider and they first debate effectively the reinstatement.