Legislators have passed the Constitution (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2017 dropping the 75 year upper age limit for presidential candidates and extending the term of Parliament to seven years.
After three days of debate and objections by a section of Opposition, Independent and a few NRM MPs, Parliament approved what came to be known as the ‘Age Limit Bill’ with the required two thirds majority on Wednesday night.
At the third reading, the last stage before a Bill becomes an Act, 315 MPs voted in favour, while 62 rejected the Bill, with 2 MPs abstaining.
For each of the second and third readings, MPs had to endure over two hours of roll call and tally, the method of voting required for bills meant to amend provisions of the Constitution.
In early October, Igara West MP, Hon. Raphael Magyezi (NRM) moved the Constitution (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2017 for its first reading, following a motion, a requirement by the Rules of Procedure, passed on 27th September 2017.
The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, declared the Constitution (Amendment) (No.2) 2017 passed into an Act of Parliament awaiting presidential assent.
“Hon Members, the results are 2 abstained, 62 ‘No’ and 315 ‘Yes’. The question was that the Bill be read for the third time; I declare that the question is settled and the Bill passes,” said Kadaga.
The Act includes the extension of the tenure of Parliament and Local Councils to seven years.
This was introduced by Hon Michael Tusiime (NRM, Mbarara Municipality) as an amendment to clause 2 of the Bill at the Committee of the Whole House stage.
The introduction of the seven-year term begins with the 10th Parliament and the current Local Councils.
MP Nathan Nandala-Mafabi (FDC, Budadiri West) raised objections to the extension of the tenure of Parliament, saying it should only take effect after subsequent elections.
“As we speak now, Hon Tusiime’s proposal is going to affect the current Members of Parliament. We came here for five years and we cannot amend the Constitution retrospectively,” said Mafabi.
Deputy Attorney General Mwesigwa Rukutana (NRM, Rushenyi), however, disagreed with Nandala-Mafabi’s position, saying “when we embark on this amendment, we are not doing it exclusively for this Parliament, but also for posterity.”
The amendment implies that the election of MPs will not be synced with that of the President, because a change to the president’s tenure requires a referendum.
Article 102(b) has also been amended, dropping the lower and upper age limit caps on presidential candidates. Parliament has instead adopted the minimum age for qualification as president to be 18 years.
Filing of a petition to presidential elections will now be lodged in the Supreme Court within 14 days, due to an amendment to Article 104 of the Constitution.
Article 183 (2) (b) has also been amended to delete age limits fo Local Council Chairpersons, introducing a lower age of 18 years.
At the second reading, 317 MPs voted in favour of the Bill, 2 abstained while 97 voted ‘No’.
During the Committee stage, where debate is restricted to the phraseology and particulars of the Bill, MPs voted in favour of all clauses by voice.
Source: Parliamentary News
