The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), the leading opposition party in Uganda, has petitioned World Bank officials asking the institution to stop funding local projects.
The top party officials who are in London, led by FDC secretary general Nandala Mafabi, told World Bank officials that the NRM government uses the money meant to run the projects to finance the lifting of Presidential age limit.
By press time, the World Bank had not responded to the issues FDC raised.
Currently, there is tag of war on whether Article 102(b) of the Constitution should be amended. With opposition figures arguing that the amendment is being done to allow President Museveni rule for life while those in the NRM camp argue that the article is discriminative and should be amended.
The Article bars Ugandans who have clocked 75 years and above from contesting for the Presidency. President Museveni will be 77 years by 2021.
Last week, PML Daily learnt that the legislators from the ruling party and the opposition parties are to receive money to help them conduct consultations on the bill seeking to lift the age limit.
Some MPs in the NRM camp are rejecting the Shs20m Parliament plans to give, saying it should be increased to Shs50m.
Mafabi, who is currently in Leeds, London attending the FDC Convention is among the legislators who vowed to rally the international community to fight the age limit.
“This is a widely campaign to stop President Museveni’s project of life Presidency. This time, it will not business as usual,” Ibrahim Kasozi, the Makindye East legislator.
Government responds
The deputy spokesperson of government, Shaban Bantariza, attacked FDC officials of being unpatriotic.
“If the projects are halted, how will they benefit?” he asked.
He explained that MPs are entitled to receive funds to help them conduct their consultations.
“These funds are budgeted every year. I asked FDC officials to play mature politics,” he said.
Battle for party presidency
A part from battling the age limit, some FDC candidates are in London to solicit votes from the voters.
Unlike other political parties, FDC members in diaspora, participate in decision making of the party, which include voting leaders.
The party presidential candidates to present their manifestos before voters in UK include Gen Mugisha Muntu, the party president, Patrick Amuriat and Moses Byamugisha.
FDC set November 24, for electing the party president. At first, the party had set November 18 but it postponed it to allow its members to participate in Local Council elections.
Amuriat and Muntu suspended their country wide campaigns to fight the Presidential age limit.
PLM Daily has seen this morning the convention programme. The convention will take place at 75 Roseville Road leeds LS8.
Other key speakers expected discuss on the affairs of Uganda include Dr Kizza Besigye, the former party presidential candidate in last year’s general elections, Dr. Vincent Magombe, African Affairs Analyst, based in London and Prof.Eric Kashambuzi, the Secretary General of the United Democratic Ugandans.
They will discuss the impact of lifting the presidential age limit and the compulsory acquisition on Uganda’s democracy and human rights.