The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | GODFREY SSALI | A new survey has indicated that majority of Ugandans favor maintaining an age limit of 75 years for presidential candidates.
The survey conducted by Afro-barometer showed that up to 75% of Ugandans across the political divide, age, and gender want the presidential age limit maintained.
The findings further showed that support for the age limit is stronger among men at 78% than among women which are at 71%. The support is even higher in urban areas at 81% that in rural were it stands at 73%.
Dr Frederick Gooloba Mutebi, the lead investigator for the Afro barometer survey in Uganda said that the push for the amendment of article 102 (b) of the constitution by a section of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) MPs contradicts the wishes of many, according to their survey.
“We asked people hypothetically whether they support or don’t support the lifting of the age limit and you see from the results. The controversy we are having now, is that the MPs agitating for lifting the age limit is in contradiction with the thinking of the vast majority of Ugandans,” said Golooba.
The findings further indicated that more than 8 in 10 Ugandans with at least a secondary education favor keeping the age limit, compared to about 7 in 10 among less-educated respondents.
The survey showed that the support to maintain the age limit among National Resistance Movement members is at 67% and even more stronger among supporters of the Forum for Democratic Change at 90%) and independents at 77%.
By region, the survey showed that support for the age limit is greatest in Kampala at 90% and Central region at 86%, dropping to 67% in the Northern region.
