Ugandan police have been placed on high alert as parliament resumes this week to debate the constitutional amendment bill which intends to lift the age limit for the presidency.
“We are aware of the opposition’s plan to stage violent activities around parliament,” said Kampala Metropolitan Police Commander Frank Mwesigwa on Monday, further stating that authorities have received reports on opposition plans to burn petrol stations and cause chaos in the city over the scheduled debate.
“Police are working with sister security agencies to counter this and allow democratic processes to take place,” he said.
The much-anticipated debate on the removal of the presidential age limit first caused controversy in September, when Speaker Rebecca Kadaga suspended 25 MPs for unruly behaviour, triggering chaos in the house.
Uganda’s nucleus of law and order fell into riot as plain-clothes security operatives stormed parliament to help throw out the suspended, but defiant, MPs.
Several MPs were hospitalised over the bill – which proposes several changes to the current presidency agreement, including lifting the age limit of 75 on the presidency.
This controversial move has enraged opposition MPs, as it is seen as a significant step towards securing a free run for President Yoweri Museveni to seek re-election in 2021.
MPs opposed to the change in the age limit have promised to table a minority report, local sources say.
“We have signed our report dissenting from the majority report. The reasons therein are very clear and will be known when it’s presented on the floor of Parliament but using our established means, we believe the people of Uganda are 100% behind us,” said Wilfred Nuwagaba, one of eight members on the committee opposing the lifting of the age limit.
President Museveni is yet to respond but reports indicate that Police General Chief Kale Kayihura, Chief of Defence Forces General David Muhoozi and Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda have all been involved in consultation with Kadaga to plan on security for the upcoming sessions.
