Uganda’s Justice and Constitutional Affairs Maj Gen Kahinda Otafiire has reiterated the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party – and government’s commitment – to amend the country’s constitution to allow three-decade president rule for life.

Last week, in a caucus of his ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) MPs backed a bill by Igara West MP Raphael Magyezi that seeks to delete the upper age limit in article 102b of the Constitution that bars anyone over 75 years from standing for president.

In the meeting at the office of the prime minister in the capital Kampala, eight “Rebel” NRM MPs opposed to age limit removal were ejected.

Born in 1944 and in power since 1986, Museveni will be ineligible for reelection in 2021.

Otafiire was chief guest at a ceremony organized by former Igara East MP Michael Mawanda to celebrate a recent victory in an election petition against Andrew Martial.

BUSH WAR TALK

Otafiire, a comrade of Museveni in the 1980-86 liberation war that brought NRA/M into power, told Mawanda’s supporters gathered at Kyeizooba playground in the western Uganda district of Bushenyi at the weekend that there were reports of some Ugandans who had threatened to wage war if the age limit was removed.

 “I hear some People saying that if the constitution is tampered with, they will go to the bush, those who wish to go to the bush should go but they will never come out from the bush,” Otafiire said. “It is a must. We will amend the constitution.”

Otafiire was reportedly heckled but he further emphasized that blood was shed to bring Museveni to power and none would lock him out of State House because of age.

The minister also rallied the people of Igara West to vote Mawanda instead of Martial.

Days before court kicked him out parliament, Martial rejected age limit removal.