Age Limit: “Voters are Fatigued by Elections” – Syda Bbumba

Nakaseke North legislator, Syda Bbumba has cited election fatigue as reason for amending Article 102(B) to lift the presidential age limits and extension of terms of office for all elected leaders from 5 years to 7 years.

Bbumba, a former Minister of Finance said that her constituents authorized her to support the amendment in order to cater for the abundant human resources this country is endowed with, who wish to serve in different elective positions but locked out by age restrictions in the constitution.

“I consulted and 99% supported the amendment of Article 102b. They directed me to touch it. We have abundant human resources but Article 102b limits them,” Bbumba submitted on Wednesday.

“They also said they are fatigued with frequent elections. Nakaseke was in the middle of the fight for democracy. What these people were fighting for was unlimited democracy which this Parliament is enjoying now,” said Bbumba.

Parliament has Wednesday resumed debating on the Presidential age limit amendment for the third day after the second reading of the Bill started on Monday.

Amid relative calm from the opposition members of Parliament, other legislators also continued representing views from their constituents with some opposing and others supporting the amendment.

Patrick Nsamba, the Kasanda North MP reiterated that he does not subscribe to the view that his own political party NRM is under resourced with leaders saying the party has better leaders than President Yoweri Museveni.

However, Koboko municipality MP, Evelyn Anite highlighted that it is President Museveni who brought the peace and stability in Northern Uganda and for this reason, she supports the lifting of the Presidential age limits to extend Museveni’s reign.

The youthful legislator also claimed that a section of opposition MPS including Aruu county representative, Odonga Otto also support the removal of the age caps.

Voting on these amendments where its supporters need three quarters of the 434 legislators to pass it, is anticipated for today after the debate.