A law amending Uganda’s constitution to allow President Yoweri Museveni to extend his rule was introduced in parliament on Tuesday.
Nearly all members opposed to the bill were either barred or stayed away from parliament in protest.
The bill brought to parliament would remove the age hurdle.
Parliament spokesman Chris Obore said the bill was read and then referred to a parliamentary committee.
“The committee will scrutinize it, hold public hearings and make a report on it … then it will be returned to the House,” Obore said.
The bill has the support of the ruling National Resistance Movement, which is keen to have President Yoweri Museveni in the ballot come 2021.
The law currently caps the upper age limit at 75, meaning the 73-year-old president will be barred from running in the next election.
Opposition members have condemned the move, saying it is a plot to have Museveni cling on to power.
Last week, the bill caused a tussle in parliament, forcing the speaker to adjourn the sitting.
Museveni has been president of the East African nation since 1986, and is one of Africa’s longest serving leaders.
