The amendment of the constitution to remove age-limit is still faced with a bumpy road as religious clerics and cultural leaders attack President Yoweri Museveni for amending the constitution. In his Christmas message at Rubaga Cathedral, Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga spoke out loud against the constitutional amendment.
Addressing the Vice President Edward Sekandi, Lwanga said the move could take Uganda back to the past of anarchy.
“Let me send you the Vice President (Edward Ssekandi) to wish President Museveni a Merry Christmas but emphasize to him that his leadership does not take us back to the past which was full of anarchy. Leadership should be guided by article 1 of the constitution (which states that power belongs to the people),” Archbishop Lwanga said.
Lwanga added that government is full of “lies, brutality and betrayal,” which could have dire consequences for the country.
Katikkiro Charles Mayiga on the other hand said that government failed to listen to the views of the majority who were against the constitutional amendment.
“We can’t build Uganda unless we respect people’s views. 2018 will be a year to isolate lying politicians. My fellow leaders should know that our success lies on what those we lead desire. Leaders should not be timid and work against their conscience,” Mr Mayiga said.
When his time came to speak, Vice President Edward Ssekandi struggled, to explain why article 102 (b) of the constitution was amended to remove presidential age limit.
“I was part of those who made the 1995 constitution and we laid down ways how to amend the constitution. It is that procedure that we followed,” Mr Ssekandi said .
“We put a whole chapter on amendment and whoever is discontented can go back and read that chapter. We knew we had left out certain things,” he added.
Sekandi spoke amidst heckles and walk outs by faithful who expressed their disenchantment with his less convincing explanations.
