JINJA–Jinja Municipality East voters today took the age limit battle to their MP’s home, insisting that he declares his stand on the controversial age limit bill.
The infuriated voters said their MP, Nathan Igeme Nabeta, had promised to consult them on the controversial bill today at 10am but failed to honour his promise.
“Hon Nabeta had promised to meet us for consultations on the age limit bill but to our dismay, he called a few of his protégés and took them to his hotel,” said Peter Ngobi, one of the voters, who stormed the MP’s home.
He said they decided to storm his home after they got tired of waiting for the former minister.
Hon Nabeta, the proprietor of NBS radio, Kodheyo TV and Smart FM in Jinja, has been silent on the age limit bill tabled in Parliament by Igara West MP Raphael Magyezi.
The former minister is still battling a court case filed by his challenger in last year’s general election, Paul Mwiru of the Opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).
Mwiru took Igeme to court over electoral malpractices. The High Court in Jinja ruled in Mwiru’s favour but Nabeta petitioned the Appeals Court that is yet to deliver a ruling on the matter.
Political pundits attribute Nabeta’s silence to unfinished business in court.
Jinja residents appear resolute on their opposition to the amendment of Article 102(b) of the Constitution.
Last week, the mother of Moses Balyeku, the Member of Parliament for Jinja Municipality West, faced the wrath of Jinja residents who reportedly assaulted her, accusing her of producing a ‘bad son’.
Ms Grace Balyeku had gone to Amber Court market ahead of his son who was supposed to address the traders on the proposed amendment of Article 102 (b) of the Constitution to scrap age limits for people aspiring for the Presidency of the country.
Trouble started when Ms Balyeku who had gone for shopping reportedly told traders that ‘their brother’ was coming to address them over the constitutional age limit amendment”. The infuriated traders hurled insults at her and shoved her before pushing her out of the market.
Balyeku was one of the two legislators who seconded Hon Magyezi’s motion on the Constitutional amendment.
The move reportedly angered his constituents who accused the NRM legislator of representing himself instead of his constituents.
Consequently, a group of youths in the constituency led by former MP aspirant Paul Kawanguzi started soliciting signatures aimed at recalling Balyeku from Parliament.
“The voters feel betrayed and want Hon Balyeku recalled from Parliament,” Kawanguzi said.
Meanwhile in neighbouring Kamuli district, Buzaaya county MP Isaac Musumba was told by local leaders in his constituency not to tamper with the Constitution.
The local leaders who met in Nawanyago voted against the Constitutional amendment by 146 to 123 votes.
The controversial age limit bill seeks to, among other, allow President Museveni rule beyond 2021. President Museveni will be 77 years of age by 2021 and will be ineligible to run if the Constitution is not amended.
