Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni is free to seek a sixth term in office. It follows a ruling by a court in Uganda on Thursday clearing the way for him.
There was public outcry last year after the country’s parliament passed a resolution removing the presidential age limit.
The resolution removed the age limit of 75 years placed on presidential aspirants in the east African nation.
President Museveni who is 73 therefore can run for a sixth term per the new law.
Critics of the president, many of whom are from the opposition agitated over the scrapping of the presidential age limit.
A group of opposition figures called for a judicial review at the constitutional court of Uganda.
But after a marathon session of hearing, the constitutional court judges, ruled in favour of lifting the age limit for presidential contenders.
Previous law required presidential contenders to be under the age of 75. That would have disqualified Museveni who has been president since 1986.
Last year President Museveni declared his backing for a longer presidential term from current five years to seven. He did not however propose directly for the current term limit in his country to be extended.
There was an attempt by Ugandan lawmakers to extend their terms of office from current five years to seven. The judges ruled against that describing it as “selfish”.
Source: Africafeeds.com