NRM parliamentary caucus gives Igara West Member of Parliament, Raphael Magezi a go ahead to table a motion to seek leave for a private members’ bill to lift the presidential age limit.
This was after a vote on two motions, one for Raphael Magezi while the other for Kasanda South MP, Patrick Nsamba asking government to constitute a constitutional review commission to look into all the necessary constitution amendment as a whole.
The five hourly meeting was attended by 296 NRM MPs of which 287 supported Magyezi while 7 rejected, 2 abstained from voting, 4 voted in favour of Patrick Nsamba’s motion against the rest of the members.
According to the government chief whip, Ruth Nankabirwa, members argued there was not much time to wait for government to form the commission to look into the whole constitution yet there issues that are urgent.
“The pertinent issues were about bringing the whole matter at ago and consideration of time given the Supreme Court ruling against the reelection of president Museveni which called for constitution amendments to be made within 2 years,” Nankabirwa said
Nankabirwa warned MPs who are threatening violence during the tabling of the motion due today thursday that they were not in order.
Nankabirwa responded to legislators who are threatening violence that she also has numbers of MPs from NRM who can capably respond to any attacks.
A number of opposition MPs and independents who are not in support of the proposal to lift the age limit have since threatened to commit violence to deter tabling of the motion.
Nankabirwa says the sergeant at arms will ensure the mace (instrument of power) is protected and that the NRM MPs will be around to defend the party position even when it comes to physical attacks.