KAMPALA–The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party has made a shocking ‘revelation’ to the effect that Article 102(b) was just smuggled in the country’s Constitution.
While delivering a 19-page submission, NRM party officials led by the deputy Secretary General, Richard Todwong, on Thursday appeared before the Parliament’s committee on Legal Affairs that is currently scrutinizing the contentious age limit amendment Bill tabled by Igara West MP, Raphael Magyezi.
The submission detailed the benefits of the NRA revolution and the dangers of losing President Museveni as the President of Uganda if Article 102 (b) is not amended.
Todwong submitted tha members of the Constituent Assembly who made the 1995 Constitution only supported the lower limit of 35 years but rejected the upper limit of 75 years.
“During the debate (1995 Constitution), a motion to delete paragraph 102(b) was introduced by Hon. Kabayo. The motion was seconded by the delegates. The Chairman ruled that the House first dispose of the motion by honourable Kabayo,” part of the submission reads.
Constituent Assembly Chairman, James Wapakhabulo reportedly posed the question and all members agreed to delete Article102(b) from the Constitution.
Todwong contends that the question of deletion was left for the public to decide and that The Hansard records clearly show this. He wondered how the age limit ended up in the Constitution.
“The Constituent Assembly agreed that no age limit should be taken and that is should be left to the people. The existence of article 102(b) in the Constitution was clearly not the wish of the majority members.”
The development shocked MPs in the committee and it was resolved that the matter should be investigated.
The 1995 Constitution was dully signed by Museveni and it came into force on October 8, 1995
