The battle by the opposition to keep the constitution intact could have slipped from their hands as members of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) yesterday voted to amend the same.
Meeting under the stewardship of the party chairman Yoweri Museveni, at State House Entebbe, the NEC members unanimously voted to support Raphael Magyezi’s Bill which seeks to remove the lower and upper age limit caps from the constitution.
Magyezi tabled the controversial Bill in parliament last month, seeking among others to adjust the lower age limit for holding a political office as well as scrapping the upper age limit from 75 years. Magyezi argues that since power belongs to the people, the onus should be on them to determine whom they want to be their leader without any age limitation.
Magyezi would later insist that Bill was not intended to benefit President Yoweri Museveni who will be 76 years by the ned of his official term, hence ineligible. However, members of the opposition argued that despite the Bill being in the hands of Magyezi, all signs and symptoms indicate it bears the DNA od president Museveni.
And indeed, while addressing the NRM parliamentary caucus this month, Museveni revealed that the Bill is his, rallying legislators to support and vouch for it. Sooner than later, the Central Executive Committee (CEC) also voted to support the bill.
Now the NEC which comprises of; District chairpersons, conference chairpersons, NRM flag bearers, structure heads among others has also voted to back the Bill.
“It is for the good of the country and to remove discrimination on the basis of age for those aspiring for leadership,” the NEC resolved.
They also reiterated that the Bill is not to benefit anyone as has been construed by the opposition and other misguided people. The NEC also agreed to explain to the masses and guide them on the Bill to avoid misinformation.
The beginning of the NEC meeting was not a rosy one as bigger percentage objected the amendment.
