Uganda Law Society has petitioned the Constitutional Court seeking to annul it the age limit bill that was turned into a law two weeks ago.
Mr Francis Gimara, the President of Uganda Law society together with other lawyers filed a petition that was against the extension of the term of the 10th Parliament and that of the local government councils to seven years. According to the petition, the lawyers believe that it is unconstitutional as it is against the will of the voters.
“Some of the amendments took away the authority of the people who allowed a five-year term, is unconstitutional. The MPs by passing this bill took away the will of the people,” the court documents supporting their suit read in part.
According to the lawyers, the effect of the passing of the age limit Bill into law will see the Electoral Commission organizes two separate elections of the President and MPs and that this arrangement infects Article 105 (1) of the Constitution and is inconsistent with Articles 1, 8a and 260 (1) f of the Constitution.
“The process leading to enactment of the Constitutional (amendment) Act, 2018 was stained with violence, intimidation, abuse of fundamental human rights, general mayhem, security officers evading Parliament and assaulting MPs, which actions undermined the integrity, security and independence of Parliament,” they added.
