The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Matia Kasaija has expressed concern over the heated atmosphere that has characterised the ongoing debate on lifting the presidential age limit, saying that if not contained, the violent flare-ups between proponents and opponents of the bill would further affect an economy that has been struggling for the last two years. .
“Money hates noise. Whenever it hears noise, it runs away. If we are to debate this bill, let’s do it quietly without the outside world getting to know but whenever we make noise, investors think the country is on fire. They will just run away,” Mr. Kasaija told journalists at his office.
His comments came just hours after a standoff between opposition leaders, their supporters and the police in Rukungiri district, over political mobilisation against the lifting of the presidential age limit that is capped at 75 years.
The scuffle left at least one person dead and others with serious wounds as police fired live ammunition and teargas to disperse opposition supporters.
Further, hours after his comments, there was again another confrontation between opposition leaders and police as the latter attempted to block an opposition rally in Natete, Lubaga North in Kampala.
The scuffle ended up in the arrest of opposition leaders including MPs Kato Lubwama, Allan Ssewanyana, Moses Kasibante and Muhammad Nsereko, and with police firing of teargas to disperse opposition supporters.
A similar incident happened on Tuesday in Kasubi, Lubaga North as police tried to disperse a consultative rally that had been hosted by the area MP Moses Kasibante.
