NRM pro-age limit MPs have expressed disappointment with the move by their party to throw a celebratory party for the 317 MPs who last year supported the amendment to remove Presidential age limits from the constitution.
The MPs who include; Theodore Ssekikubo of Lyemiyaga County, Manjiya County’s John Baptist Nambeshe, Kassanda North MP Patrick Oshabe and Kasambya North MP Gaffa Mbwatekamwa noted that they are ready to pay any cost for standing with Ugandans who spoke loudly against the removal of the Presidenrial age limit.
The legislators told the media at Parliament on Friday that they are glad that government whip, Ruth Nankabirwa has not invited them for the celebrations to be held this Sunday in Kiboga district.
According to Nankabirwa, the party is aimed at appreciating the legislators for their “heroic” stand despite several threats and intimidation from the opposition and a section of the public.
Nankabirwa believes that the 317 MPs stood with the majority of Ugandans who wanted the Presidential age limit bill passed which the NRM said was initially discriminatory against some Ugandans on the basis of age.
However, the NRM ‘rebel’ MPs noted that it is high level of hypocrisy for the MPs who acted against the will of their electorate to turn around and celebrate their actions.
They noted that it beats their understand to see Ugandans mourning for the ‘raping’ of the constitution, but instead the ruling party chooses to throw a party for those that betrayed their electorate.
Kassanda North MP, Patrick Oshabe Nsamba as well dismissed claims that the party is organized by NRM caucus members who pulled funds together. He said that it is the tax payers’ money that is being wasted.
“It is false that the party is being funded by the NRM caucus. This is a celebration for all the MPs including those in opposition or opposition leaning who supported the bill,” Oshabe said.
On the bickering at the party Secretariat between the Secretary General, Justine Kasule Lumumba and the Electoral Commission Chairperson, Dr. Tanga Odoi, the legislators noted that this is due to the many power centres all of which have direct access to President Museveni.
“There is no sense of hierarchy at the Secretariat, everyone reports directly to the President which is the sole cause of conflicts and this is greatly affecting the party building and growth,” Oshabe said.
Kasambya North MP, Gaffa Mbwatekamwa called on the 27 NRM MPs who opposed the lifting the age limits to form a disciplinary committee and summon Lumumba and Dr Tanga for fighting their battles in public which is an act against the party’s code of conduct.