Arua Municipality Voters Collect Signatures to Throw MP Abiriga Out of Parliament Over Age Limit

Supporters of the age limit removal campaign continue to receive hostile treatment from sections of the Ugandan population.

The age limit removal campaign is aimed at removing article 102b from Uganda’s constitution to allow the east African nation’s three-decade president Yoweri Museveni stand for reelection when Uganda next goes to the polls in 2021.

Born in 1944, Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, will be over 75 years by 2021.

The constitution bars him from standing for reelection.

Although Museveni has dismissed the age limit debate as a wastage of time, some MPs and members of his ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party continue to campaign for the president’s life presidency.

But supporters of the age limit removal have started paying for their love for Museveni.

On Monday, Kassanda South MP Simeo Nsubuga was roughed up by a one William Ntege at the coronation anniversary of Buganda king at an event held in Mubende district.

Barely two days later, on Wednesday, voters in Arua Municipality started a campaign to recall their MP,  Ibrahim Abiriga, the first NRM member to openly call for the age limit removal and for a Museveni life presidency.

These locals accuse MP Abiriga, known for donning yellow clothes, of embarrassing them and presenting his selfish views – instead of representing them.

Majority of them youth, a section of Arua voters convened a press conference at Pacific hotel in Arua on Wednesday.

Group leaders Mercy Monica and Lemeriga Fadhil said Abiriga hadfailed in his responsibility as the area MP, casting doubts on whether he was the best representative Arua municipality could get.

By Wednesday afternoon, the group had gathered over 630 signatures.

Seen by SK Mugisha at 06:11

 

Tricia Ishimwe