Kampala: The Constitutional Court has scheduled July 26, 2018 as the date for the delivery of Judgment in the anticipated ‘Age Limit Petitions’ at the Mbale High Court situated in Eastern Uganda.
In December last year Parliament passed age limit bill lifting presidential age limit that was capped at 75 years, giving a leeway for President Yoweri Museveni who is currently 73 years to stand for presidency in 2021 and on the same day they also voted to extend their term in office from five to seven years.
Due to dissatisfaction with what transpired in Parliament, six opposition legislators led by Winnie Kiiza, Uganda Law Society, and Male Mabirizi among other concerned citizens petitioned the Constitutional Court challenging the ‘Age Limit Act’.
They argued that the process of enacting the bill was marred with violence, assault of legislators, storming of Special Forces Command (SFC) in Parliamentary chambers and violations of human rights which among others contradicts with Parliamentary rules and procedures.
It’s upon that, that a panel of five judges of Constitution Court, led by, the Deputy Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo, Remmy Kasule, Elizabeth Musoke, Chebrion Barishaki and Kenneth Kakuru sat in Mbale and listened to petitioner’s submissions.
In court the petitioner’s layers led by Lord Mayor for Kampala Erias Lukwago, Male Mabirizi, contended that the extension of legislators tenure in office was didn’t go through legal process and thus it was uncalled for.