By Damba A report released today by the Uganda governance and monitoring platform and CCEDU reveals that most NRM MPs position on the age limit amendment does not reflect the position of their respective constituencies an indication that they are not representing the views of the electorates.
Though 73% of the mps say that they would not vote for the removal of age limit, the report further highlights that over 90% of female MPs, UPDF, workers representatives in parliament are in full support of the amendments in the constitution to change the age limit article with the report pointing out that most of these MPs are brought into power by state machinery hence the full support to all the bills that come before the house.
Further, the report shows that among the NRM mps 65% are against the removal as compared to 35% who are in full support, then the opposition, 97% are against as compared to 3% who are in support and the independents, 81% are against as compared to 19% that are in support of the removal.
And based on regions, Buganda, Bugisu, Acholi, Lango and Westnile MPs are strongly against the removal of the age limit as compared to Western, Bunyoro, Busoga that have full support for the removal of the age limit.
Buganda Region.
47 of MPs in Buganda support the removal and 44 are opposed as 57 are still undecided and in the parties. 41 are supporting as opposed to 19 against and 5 still undecided in the NRM and the opposition in Buganda 100% are against the removal of age limit but three independent are in support as 9 are opposing the removal. Of the 71 constituencies in Buganda, 61 are against the removal of the age limit and 10 are still undecided.
Ankole Region
29 legislators are supporting the removal of the age limit as compared to 2 that are still undecided and 20 constituencies are against the removal as compared to 4 that support the removal.
Acholi
Only 15 MPs are opposed to the removal of the age limit, 1 is still undecided and 7 are supporting the removal and among the 7 is Hon. Beatrice Anywar. All the constituencies in Acholi region are opposed to the lifting of the age limit.
Bugisu
8 MP support, 3 oppose and 1 still undecided in the NRM as in the opposition, 8 support, 6 oppose and 3 undecided but 99% of the constituencies in the region are strongly against the removal of age limit.
Bunyoro
In the NRM, 13 support, 2 opposed and 4 still undecided but all the constituencies in the region are opposed to the removal of the age limit.
Busoga
37 mps are supporting the removal, 7 undecided and 2 are opposed but within the NRM, 23 are supporting, 4 undecided. But the constituencies in Busoga are strongly against the removal of the age limit.
Karamoja
18 of the legislators are in full support of the removal as compared to 1 that is opposed but the constituencies are fully against the removal.
Kigezi
17 MPs support the removal and only 4 are opposed to it as constituencies are against the removal.
Lango
9 MPs are supporting the removal, 3 undecided and 11 are opposed to the removal still in this region constituencies are opposed to the removal of the age limit
Rwenzori
7 are opposed to the removal as compared to 3 who are in support of the removal.
Sebbei
Mps there are in support of the removal of the age limit but the constituencies are strongly opposed to the view of the MPs.
Teso
17 are supporting as compared to 7 who are opposed and 2 who are still undecided.
Tooro
11 are in full support of the removal, 2 are opposed to the removal and 2 are still undecided but the constituencies are against the removal only one is in support of the removal.
However, Rev. Dr. Omona Andrew a lecturer at makerere university warns that with the current trends of lack of respect for the rights of the electorate by the NRM MPs is a dangerous sign to the country’s political and democratic future.
But Imam Kasozi says attributes the huge disconnect between the constituency voices and the MPs to the greedy that NRM mps have at the expense of the nation that he wants to be checked by the electorate as and when they get to the polls.
The research was carried out between the months of September to October 2017 from over 100 constituencies across the country.
The controversial article 102(b) bill was presented before parliament on 27thSeptember 2017 by Hon. Raphael Magyezi and was earlier on the 16thSeptember fully backed by cabinet and then on 13th October 2017 the NRM caucus meeting that was chaired by the party national chair, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni also endorsed the bill.
