Opposition legislators have rushed to the constitutional court challenging the Constitutional Amendment Act that removed Age Limit cap for president from the constitution.
The amendment which was passed on December 20th was accented to by the president days later making it an Act. The amendment also increased term of Members of Parliament from five to seven years.
The six MPs challenging the Act are Leader of Opposition and Kasese Woman MP Winnie Kiiza, Allan Ssewanyana of Makindye West, Ssemujju Nganda of Kira Municipality, Jonathan Odur of Erute South, Gerald Karuhanga of Ntungamo Municipality and Mubarak Munyagwa of Kawempe North.
Some of them were suspended from parliament on December 18th, two days before the passing of the bill. Kilak North legislator Anthony Akol is the only legislator who was suspended from parliament but has not joined the petition team.
Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, the lawyer for the petitioner says the petition is challenging the process which culminated into the passing of the bill and the Act itself. He says the petitioners are demanding the constitutional court to declare "the obnoxious legislation null and void." The Attorney General is the respondent.
Lukwago says the process that resulted into passing of the bill was rooted in illegalities, transgression and fraud. He says the petitioners took time to gather all evidence to support the case.
Lukwago says the petition will not only put the National Resistance Movement government that usurped the will of the people on trial but also courts of law. He says they expect the court to listen to the matter and pronounce itself expeditiously.
Winnie Kiiza says the petition marks the start of kogikuteko campaign which opposition legislators promised after passing of the bill. She says Ugandans said to amendment of the constitution to remove age limit for president. Kiiza says the passing of the bill was a mockery of good governance.
