The Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee has tasked the Uganda Medical Association (UMA) to explain how old age impacts on one’s ability to lead the country.
The group has in turn asked for more time to complete its study before stating its position on the proposed scrapping of the presidential age limit.
Led by Dr. Ekwaro Obuku, the Chairperson Uganda Medical Association, medics have appointed a panel of seasoned experts to study the issue of old age and leadership before starting their position on the Constitutional (Amendment) (No.2) Bill, 2017.
The issue was disclosed by Obuku while appearing together with his committee members before the Committee on Wednesday.
The Committee is currently conducting public hearings on the Constitutional (Amendment) (No.2) Bill, 2017, which seeks among others to scrap the presidential age limit.
Once approved, the bill will pave way for President, Yoweri Museveni, who will be above the 75-year-old mark to seek re-election when his current term ends.
Dr. Obuku argued that they are going through a thorough process, looking at research all over the world and that they have already contacted international agencies, which conduct systematic reviews and meta-analysis.
"Due to the importance of this subject to the future of this country, we take cognizant of the robust due process required to come up with concrete findings that will better inform your decisions. This job needs to be thoroughly done. It is a job that has implications on the future of this country and therefore, we are taking it very seriously as Uganda Medical Association." said Dr. Ekwaro.
Dr. Ekwaro said that cognition is very important because they think that somebody who is fit to be President of Uganda should be able to make very complex decisions. He requested for a new date from the Committee so that they submit their findings.
The Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee Chairperson and West Budama South MP, Jacob Oboth-Oboth granted the Uganda Medical Association two more weeks to prepare their report and appear before the committee again.
The Uganda Medical Association (UMA) brings together over 6,000 Medical Doctors in Uganda and the diaspora.
