The parliament in Uganda has passed the controversial bill to remove the presidential age limit by a two thirds majority.
The bill which proposes that the age limit for a person contesting to be the president of Uganda be left open received 315 votes to support it.
Currently the Ugandan constitution stipulates that for one to be able to vie as president they shall be below the age of 75 years old.
Speaker @RebeccaKadaga : These are the results; abstentions 2, against 62 and 315 were for. The #AgeLimitBill has been passed. #PlenaryUg
— Nemz (@AmanyaNemz) December 20, 2017
The vote was done after the final reading and it was the final stage before the bill is presented to the president for assent. The bill will allow Yoweri Museveni to be able to vie for the presidency again in 2021.
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The Bill also re introduces the presidential term limits which were scrapped off after the Multiparty politics in 2005 but this will only take place after the next election.
But introduction of the Bill and debates has seen the Ugandan legislators come to blows with the latest fiasco happening on December 20th as violent brawls broke out parliament on as lawmakers debated a controversial bill.
Human rights activists have termed the bill as a reversal of the Ugandan democratic space. He also said that the move to reintroduce the presidential term limit was a facade.
“To remove the age limit — one of the most important safe guards — will entrench a dictatorial and autocratic regime in Uganda,” one said.
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