The Inter-religious Council of Uganda, a loose body of religions in Uganda has issued a statement on the ongoing debate on age limit amendment.

Last week, a group of ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) Party MPs resolved to table a bill with the intention of removing the age limit clause that bars all those below 35 and those above 75 from standing for president.

But religious leaders have weighed in on the issue, recommending that the age limit and term limit clause as provided be entrenched.

Entrenching clauses means making them more difficult or impossible to amend.

The joint statement issued Monday was signed by seven clerics: Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje, the IRCU Chairman, Anglican Archbishop Stanley Ntagali, Orthodox Archibishop Metropolitan Jonah Lwanga, Adventist Church Uganda Union president Pastor Daniel Matte, Catholic Archbishop for Kampala Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, Born Again Faith in Uganda president Dr Joseph Serwadda and National Alliance of Pentecostal and Evangelical Churches in Uganda president Joshua Lwere.

The clerics also want the debate on age limit to include the general public.

Uganda’s three-decade president Yoweri Museveni has previously warned clerics, telling them to stick to shepherding the flock and to steer clear of politics.

Museveni has also openly gifted religious leaders with cars.