Age Limit: Rugunda warns religious leaders

The Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda has cautioned religious leaders against politicking and taking sides in the ongoing presidential age limit debate.

Rugunda was speaking during a meeting with National Resistance Movement (NRM) from Kanungu district.

The meeting was held at Kanungu District Council Hall.

Dr Rugunda said lately, religious leaders had abandoned their core mandate of preaching about peace and love to the citizens and resorted to condemning political beliefs.

His comments come at the backdrop of statements made by religious leaders in opposition to a proposal to scrap presidential age limits from the constitution.

The current Constitution caps the presidential age at 75.

However, Parliament is considering a bill for an amendment that would lift the cap.

The amendment, as presented by Igara West MP Raphael Magyezi, could make President Yoweri Museveni eligible to contest for another term of office.

At 73, Museveni would be ineligible to contest for the presidency in 2021, when his current term ends.

Several bishops, among them, Robert Muhiirwa Akiiki of Fort Portal Catholic Diocese and Reuben Kisembo Amooti of the Anglican diocese of Ruwenzori, have come out openly to oppose the amendment and consistently urged leaders to protect the Constitution which they swore to defend.

“The word of God must not be played with. The leaders of this country must not joke with the Bible. They held a bible in their right hand and swore to defend the constitution,” Bishop Muhiirwa said in his a recent sermon at Namugongo Marty’s Shrine.

Bishop Muhiirwa also cautioned against altering the Constitution to fit desires of an individual.

Other priests, among them Bishop Dan Zoreka from Kinkizi Diocese and Rev Fr Gaetano Batanyenda, the parish priest of Kitanga Catholic Church in Kabale diocese have come out openly to oppose the constitutional amendment.

However, Dr Rugunda said that such statements not only divert people but also create confusion among believers.

Dr Rugunda is currently traversing Kigezi sub region to popularize the proposal to scrap presidential age limits from the Constitution.

He is accompanied by the state minister for Housing Dr Chris Baryomunsi, State Minister for Planning David Bahati and former Information and National Guidance minister, Jim Katugugu Muhwezi.

During the meeting, area leaders accused the government of neglecting the key sectors in the region. They highlight the road network and health units which are all in a sad state.

Godfrey Karabenda, the Mayor for Kanungu Town Council expressed dissatisfaction over the failure to tarmac Hamurwa-Kanungu-Kihihi road one of the major roads which has become impassable.

Dr Chris Baryomunsi, who is also the Kinkizi East County legislator acknowledged the shortfall and added that as leaders they are tired of empty promises.