Police has not issued any summons for Evelyn Anite, the State Minister for Investment and Privatization in the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, over a supposedly controversial statement she made last week that was interpreted to wit that protagonists of the move to lift the presidential age limit enjoy the support of the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF).
“I heard Ssekikubo, Tinkasimire and other MPs threatening us, we are not intimidated, we are the ruling party, we shall not succumb to intimidation; we have the support of the army,” Anite was quoted as saying.
According to the 1995 Constitution, the army and police are supposed to be non-partisan and members of both institutions are barred from openly participating in politics.
So, when Minister Anite reportedly made inference to the army in her statement, it caused public criticism, prompting the UPDF to distance itself from any intended meaning of the Minister’s statement.
“The UPDF has established structures and 10 Members of Parliament through whom it can make its views known when necessary,” UPDF/Defence spokesperson Brigadier Richard Karemire was quoted as saying, adding: “The UPDF shall always remain nonpartisan as per article 208 (2) of the Constitution.”
Meanwhile, when asked today if Minister Anite had been summoned by police to explain her position in respect to the statement, police spokesperson Asan Kasingye said he is unaware of any summons made to the Koboko Woman MP.
“I am not aware of any summons for Evelyn Anite,” Mr. Kasingye said on phone.
A strong supporter of president Museveni, Anite moved the sole candidature position at a retreat in Kyankwanzi that saw Mr. Museveni become the NRM party flag bearer for the 2016 elections.
Following Museveni’s victory in the elections, Anite was named State Minister for Investment and Privatization in the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, and has of recent taken the lead in calling for the lifting of the presidential limit cap, by seeking to amend Article 102 (b) of the Constitution, to ostensibly allow Museveni rule beyond 75-years.
The age limit removal debate has caused public anxiety, with opposition MPs vowing to block any moves aimed at amending Article 102 (b), in the process leading to police summons for Kampala Central MP Muhammad Nsereko, Winfred Niwagaba (Ndorwa East), Barnabas Tinkasimire (Buyaga West) and Makindye east legislator Allan Sewanyana, to Kibuli CID headquarters for interrogations on charges related to ‘offensive communication’.
However, Nsereko and Sewanyana, who went to Kibuli, vowed to continue with their defiance against lifting the age limit, with threats to block Igara West MP Raphael Magyezi from moving a ‘private members bill’ to that effect.
But Magyezi seems not to be deterred and says despite threats to his life, he will still move the motion on Thursday.
