Today marks the first public hearing on the controversial 'Age Limit' Bill. The events kicked off this morning at Parliament with the Opposition Whip Ibrahim Semujju Nganda questioning the credibility of Jacob Oboth-Oboth, the Chairperson of the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs committee.
The FDC spokesperson accused Jacob Oboth-Oboth of attending the National Resistance Movement-NRM party caucus which endorsed the bill and held a secret meeting with President Yoweri Museveni, the 'targeted' beneficiary of the bill.
Ssemujju attacked Oboth; "You and a couple of others met Museveni in groups and for you Mr Chairman you met the President with MPs Esther Anyakun and Grace Kesande and in these meetings millions of money exchanged hands.”
Oboth-Oboth was challenged to come out clean and tell the world that he will be impartial in handling the bill amid fears that he was compromised.
Oboth-Oboth in his response, said that his track record speaks for itself and that he has never been a subject of an investigation on matters of personal integrity.
"It's a serious issue against my person. I have achieved the centre of neutrality. I am not a corrupt man, I will never be. I have a track record. Make arguments that will add value to these proceedings. Don't bring political activism here," Oboth-Oboth said.
Ssemujju was also concerned about the venue of the meeting alleging that the parliamentary Conference Hall A, where they were sitting, had been used by Security Operatives on September 27, 2017, before raiding Parliament and later after forcefully ejecting opposition legislators from the chambers.
"I do not feel safe in this room. Can we get another venue?" Ssemujju stated in a request supported by Shadow Attorney Wilfred Niwagaba and Masaka Municipality MP Mathias Mpuuga.
However, Oboth-Oboth insisted on proceeding with the meeting at the set venue attracting ire from Ssemujju who kept demanding for a 'proper' venue.
The situation was saved by the Sergeant at Arms Ahmed Kagoye who stepped in notifying Oboth-Oboth that the South Committee Room was available for the committee if members deemed it fit. The legislators changed the venue of the meeting after two hours of bickering.
