LIVE: Voting starts on 2nd reading of Age Limit bill

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Voting has started to pass the second reading of the Constitutional Ammendment Bill 2017 in Uganda’s parliament.

Despite protests my some MPs that only 197 had contributed to the debate, Speaker Rebecca Kadaga went on to put the report to the vote.

For the vote to be carried, it will require two thirds which is 289 of 434 MPs. Voting will be by roll call and tally.

Hon Ababiku: Yes
Hon Abachacon: No
Abiriga: Yes
Remigius yes
Opendi: Yes
Aciro Lucy: No
Acon: Yes
Adeke: No
Adome: No
Adong: No
Agaba: Yes
Achiro: Yes
Akampurira: yes
Akello Lucy: No
Akello Sylvia: No
Akena: No
Ahimbisibwe:Yes
Akurut: Yes
Aleper: yes. #AgeLimitBill #PlenaryUg

— Parliament Watch (@pwatchug) December 20, 2017

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After a Bill is passed at Second reading, it is considered clause by clause at Committee Stage before a vote is taken at Third reading for it to pass into law.

Earlier, lawyers of the suspended six MPs, led by shadow attorney general Wilfred Nuwagaba, have this afternoon attempted to enter parliament to give notice to the Speaker and Attorney General to appear before the High Court today.

The six MPs are protesting the legality of the decision by the Speaker to suspend them from the ongoing constitution ammendment bill. The suspended MPs are  Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, Allan Ssewanyana, Gerald Karuhanga, Jonathan Odur, Anthony Akol and Mubarak Manyangwa.

They lawyers were blocked at the gates of Parliament, with MPs Medard Ssegona and Nuwagaba who had the papers to serve the Speaker, detained by police.

Deputy Attorney General Mwesigwa Rukutana said one can’t serve court orders in the precinct of parliament.

Soon after, Speaker Kadaga suspended the house for 30 minutes to 2.15pm when roll call and vote on the different sections of the Constitution Amendment bill report started.

Among the several proposed amendments, is lifting Article 102(b) of the 1995 Constitution of Uganda – to remove the age limits (35 – 75) for presidential candidates. That is why the bill has been dubbed the “Age Limit” bill.

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