Ruling party backs move to extend Museveni’s rule

Lawmakers with Uganda's ruling party have backed plans to remove the presidential age limit, which would allow long-time President Yoweri Museveni to extend his rule. The ruling party caucus decided to throw out a clause that puts the upper age limit at 75. That’s according to parliamentary spokesperson Chris Obore who added that the issue is not yet on Parliament's agenda. Museveni, who is 73 and ineligible to run again if the age limit remains, recently evaded the question when asked whether he wants to extend his time in office. A report on the News24 site notes that Museveni's party has an overwhelming majority in the National Assembly, and a Bill to remove the age limit is expected to pass when the procedural process starts. He was re-elected last year in a poll marred by allegations of vote fraud. The next election is in 2021.