The Criminal Investigations Directorate of Police has this afternoon issued an arrest warrant for Lwemiyaga County MP Theodore Sekikubo and Buyaga MP Barnabas Tinkasimire, after the two failed to appear at the headquarters in Kibuli for interrogations over ‘offensive communication’ in respect to the lifting of the age limit that is capped at 75 years.
On Monday police summoned National Resistance Movement (NRM) ‘rebel MPs’ led by led by Kampala Central legislator Muhammad Nsereko and his colleagues Barnabas Tinkasimire (Buyaga West), Theodore Sekikubo (Lwemiyaga County) and Allan Sewanyana (Makindye East) but only two, Nsereko and Sewanyana, showed up.
Police Standards Unit’s (PSU) spokesperson Vincent Sekatte acknowledged the issuing the arrest warrants, adding that it has been copied to the Deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanyah’s office.
The two legislators can enjoy the prefix of parliament despite stationing of the police pickups outside waiting to arrest them.
The NRM rebel MPs insist Article 102 (b) of the Constitution should be maintained, but most of their colleagues want it expunged, something that has led to speculation that they want to the way for President Yoweri Museveni, who is now 73 years, to contest for presidency in 2021.
This afternoon over 300 members of the NRM parliamentary caucus resolved to support a motion seeking to introduce a bill to lift the age limit. Only seven members opposed the move while two abstained, according to the NRM Chief whip Ruth Nankabirwa.
And tomorrow Igara West MP Raphel Magyezi is expected to seek leave of Parliament to introduce an omnibus Private Member’s Bill to amend Articles 102 (b), 108(3a) and 108(4).
The current Constitution provides, among other requirements, that only persons aged 35-75 years are eligible to stand and be voted as president.
The incumbent Yoweri Museveni is 73-years-old who has been President of Uganda for over 30 years would be ineligible to stand in 2021 if the Constitution is not amended.