Ugandan authorities have postponed a bill to extend longtime leader Yoweri Museveni’s rule after protesters took to the streets against it on Thursday confronting police who fired teargas.
Groups of students at Makerere, a public university in the capital Kampala, had rallied to start marching toward parliament before police dispersed them and arrested some.
The move to amend the constitution has met widespread resistance from activists, civil-society organisations, religious leaders and even some members of Museveni’s own ruling party.
“So that matter is not for today, but it’s implications have been there, okay? So since there are two big problems which I have just enumerated, members are not willing to sit and the speaker also not willing to sit, members who don’t want to sit. This house is adjourned to Tuesday 2 o’clock,” he said.
A Western ally who sent the Ugandan military to fight Islamist militants in Somalia, Museveni won plaudits in the early years of his rule for restoring stability after years of turmoil and for drawing foreign investment.
But rampant rights violations, entrenched graft and dysfunctional public services have since eroded his standing and fuelled opposition to his rule.
Museveni won plaudits in the early years of his rule for restoring stability after years of turmoil and for drawing foreign investment.
“We will not bow, we’ll stand the ground and then defend the constitution of the republic of Uganda. Even if he brings here ‘mambas’ (local term for anti-riot police tanks), whatever kind of ammunition we’ll defend our constitution and we are not going to allow him (Museveni),” said MP, Lutamaguzi Ssemakula.
The move to amend legislation mirrors similar tactics used in Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic Congo to extend limits, a trend that has alarmed democracy watchdogs.
Police have also raided the premises of at least two pro-democracy organisations in Kampala, including that of the local unit of Johannesburg-based ActionAid International.
There was tension Thursday morning when police arrested five Makerere University students and the Mayor of the capital city Kampala Erias Lukwago, while offices of the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) were sealed off to stop planned protests against the removal of presidential age limits.
The police had deployed heavily armed security officials to parliament with a helicopter hovering around the area and members stopped from entering the vicinity with their cars including the speaker who was made to access the House from the back door.
“We all have mobile phones and if you thought there was danger, you could have called us to stay at home. It is more dangerous to make us walk to parliament in the glare of the danger you are protecting us from,” she said.
The Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda explained on the floor that there were tensions for about a week and some members had seen violence on their way to the parliament.
He was heckled by the members, especially the opposition to prove his statement.
“There are two problems here. It looks like members don’t want to sit and the speaker does not want to preside over members who don’t want to sit. The House is adjourned to Tuesday,” the speaker declared.
The Inspector General of Police Kale Kayihura said in a statement on Wednesday that planners of demonstrations can use other forms other than processions to allow parliament to “debate in peace”.
He explained that they received information about groups planning to use the cover of processions to “cause violence and mayhem” and that the police is obligated to keep law and order.
Members of Parliament of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) and some independent MPs passed a resolution to debate the removal of the presidential age limit currently pegged at 75.
If the amendment is approved, President Yoweri Museveni can contest in the next elections.
In 2005, a constitutional amendment was made removing the two-term limit for the presidency to allow the president to run for a third-term which he won.
Museveni, who is now 73, will be two years older than the current age limit in the 2021 election.
Groups of students at Makerere, a public university in the capital Kampala, had rallied to start marching toward parliament before police dispersed them and arrested some.
The move to amend the constitution has met widespread resistance from activists, civil-society organisations, religious leaders and even some members of Museveni’s own ruling party.
Parliament speaker Jacob Oulanyah told lawmakers during a raucous session that the legislation due to be introduced on Thursday afternoon was “bringing tension.”So that matter is not for today, but it's implications have been there, okay? So since there are two big problems which I have just enumerated, members are not willing to sit and the speaker also not willing to sit.
“So that matter is not for today, but it’s implications have been there, okay? So since there are two big problems which I have just enumerated, members are not willing to sit and the speaker also not willing to sit, members who don’t want to sit. This house is adjourned to Tuesday 2 o’clock,” he said.
A Western ally who sent the Ugandan military to fight Islamist militants in Somalia, Museveni won plaudits in the early years of his rule for restoring stability after years of turmoil and for drawing foreign investment.
But rampant rights violations, entrenched graft and dysfunctional public services have since eroded his standing and fuelled opposition to his rule.
Museveni won plaudits in the early years of his rule for restoring stability after years of turmoil and for drawing foreign investment.
“We will not bow, we’ll stand the ground and then defend the constitution of the republic of Uganda. Even if he brings here ‘mambas’ (local term for anti-riot police tanks), whatever kind of ammunition we’ll defend our constitution and we are not going to allow him (Museveni),” said MP, Lutamaguzi Ssemakula.
The move to amend legislation mirrors similar tactics used in Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic Congo to extend limits, a trend that has alarmed democracy watchdogs.
Police have also raided the premises of at least two pro-democracy organisations in Kampala, including that of the local unit of Johannesburg-based ActionAid International.
Ugandan parliament defers age limit debate due to heavy security deployment.
Ugandan parliament speaker Jacob Oulanyah has deferred the presidential age limit debate to next week over heavy police deployment around the House, the capital Kampala and some parts of the country.
The speaker’s decision follows a motion for adjournment filed by the leader of opposition Winnie Kiizahas who described the action by the police as a “parliamentary coup” and a siege to humiliate members.There was tension Thursday morning when police arrested five Makerere University students and the Mayor of the capital city Kampala Erias Lukwago, while offices of the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) were sealed off to stop planned protests against the removal of presidential age limits.
The police had deployed heavily armed security officials to parliament with a helicopter hovering around the area and members stopped from entering the vicinity with their cars including the speaker who was made to access the House from the back door.
Members of Parliament had to walk to parliament and some had their houses surrounded while cars of some members were impounded, Honourable Winnie Kiizahas explained on the floor.There are two problems here. It looks like members don't want to sit and the speaker does not want to preside over members who don't want to sit. The House is adjourned to Tuesday.
“We all have mobile phones and if you thought there was danger, you could have called us to stay at home. It is more dangerous to make us walk to parliament in the glare of the danger you are protecting us from,” she said.
The Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda explained on the floor that there were tensions for about a week and some members had seen violence on their way to the parliament.
He was heckled by the members, especially the opposition to prove his statement.
“There are two problems here. It looks like members don’t want to sit and the speaker does not want to preside over members who don’t want to sit. The House is adjourned to Tuesday,” the speaker declared.
The Inspector General of Police Kale Kayihura said in a statement on Wednesday that planners of demonstrations can use other forms other than processions to allow parliament to “debate in peace”.
He explained that they received information about groups planning to use the cover of processions to “cause violence and mayhem” and that the police is obligated to keep law and order.
Members of Parliament of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) and some independent MPs passed a resolution to debate the removal of the presidential age limit currently pegged at 75.
If the amendment is approved, President Yoweri Museveni can contest in the next elections.
In 2005, a constitutional amendment was made removing the two-term limit for the presidency to allow the president to run for a third-term which he won.
Museveni, who is now 73, will be two years older than the current age limit in the 2021 election.
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