Togikwatako loosely translated Don't touch it became the famouse representative opinion of the majority of Ugandans across the coutry insisting that the 1995 Constitution on Age limit should not be amended.
Like Wenger, Museveni has made his mark removing the murderous regime of Dr Milton Obote 32 years ago. I think his biggest contribution, like all strongmen, has been the stability of the state. By refusing to go peacefully, Museveni risks rolling back all his and Uganda’s achievements and that is what Wenger didn’t see. A man who managed a team through an entire season unbeaten, is now languishing in position six on the table. Wenger kept thinking he would fix current
Arsenal troubles without realizing he had become their source.
I think, and hereby beg old people to forgive me, there comes a time when age in itself becomes a problem. Museveni, who inspired many young people to risk their lives in the Luweero war, is now carrying boda bodas on his shoulders for distribution in Rukungiri. And that he can’t recover. He is no longer a source of inspiration. Besides, how would you inspire one of the world’s youngest populations when sleep is overcoming you before cameras at international conferences? To me, that is the biggest problem facing our country. There is almost nobody that gets inspired by Museveni these days. When the first four years in office expired in 1990, Museveni secured an extension without paying a single shilling. In 2003-2005, he bribed MPs with Shs 5 million each to remove presidential term limits from the Constitution. Museveni is giving MPs in the current parliament Shs 200 million each for having removed the age limit to enable him contest in the next general elections. In addition, he allowed the MPs extend his and their term by two more years because he didn’t have one billion shillings each MP was demanding. That is how he has turned himself into an agent carrying boda bodas to Rukungiri.
His appetite for power is like that of a man who has not eaten for decades. How I wish Wenger had spoken to him since he was also in London attending Commonwealth conferences! Museveni has replaced Robert Mugabe at such conferences. President Yoweri Museveni has at last appended his signature to the Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 2 2017, commonly known as the “Age Limit' bill.” Parliament's director of communications Chris Obore says the president signed the bill on December 27, just seven days after it was passed by the 10th parliament on the night of December 20.
The controversial amendment to remove the presidential age limit from the Constitution came to a conclusion on December 27, 2017 when President Museveni assented to it by signing it into law.With the presidential signing, the Bill now becomes law and is cited as an Act of Parliament, paving way for President Museveni to be eligible to contest for re-election in 2021 and beyond. Prior to the signing of the Bill, Article 102 (b) that has now been repealed, would bar President Museveni from contesting in the 2021 when he would be aged above the previous 75-age limit for the president. According to the president of Uganda Law Society, Mr Francis Gimara, the Act now only awaits formal publication in the government gazette to be cited as an Act of Parliament.
During their Christmas messages, many religious leaders openly opposed to the bill asked President Museveni not to sign the now controversial piece of legislation into law. Its passing on December 20 came at the head of episodes of violence in and outside parliament as security forces roughed up those opposed to the bill, including Members of Parliament. At its second reading on December 20, a total of 317 members of parliament voted in support of the bill, while 97 voted against. Two legislators abstained. After long hours of deliberations, as parliament considered the bill clause by clause, Speaker Kadaga put it to vote again, with 315 voting in favour and 62 against and two abstaining.
In his end of year speech, President Yoweri Museveni praised the 317 MPs who voted in favour of the bill saying they enabled him "to avoid a more complicated path that would have been required." He likened them to his bush war fighters that helped bring him to power 31 years ago and the 232 MPs of the 7th parliament who removed presidential term limits in 2005.
To the religious leaders, the president accused them of being so full of arrogance by meddling into everything including politics, forcing Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga the Archbishop of Kampala to respond in his New Year’s Day homily that religious leaders have a right to comment on politics. In response, Museveni in his New Year message lashed at religious leaders saying they "talk most authoritatively on all and everything even when they have not bothered to find out the truth….this is assuming they do not have evil intentions which would be worse," said the president. But Archbishop Lwanga said religious leaders are citizens whose freedom of expression is enshrined in Article 29 of the constitution "if it has not also been amended." said Dr Kizito Lwanga, politicians should first read and understand the Constitution and appreciate that it is for all Ugandans.