Ugandan MP suspects some chaotic colleagues are on drugs

A Ugandan Member of Parliament has averred that some of his colleagues who were engaged in chaotic exchanges in the chamber are on drugs.

The 62-year-old Bright Rwamirama, a retired major, representing the people of Isingiro County North subsequently called for tests on the said MPs.

“In this House, we have immunity for what we say not what we do. They should be punished for their actions. We are not short of manpower. If we are violent like them, we have the capacity to deploy 4 per person. They are only 36,” he said on the floor as debate started after the second day of chaos.

Rwamirama: I am convinced beyond reasonable doubt that some members are taking drugs. We must test people for drugs in this House #PlenaryUg

— Parliament of Uganda (@Parliament_UG) September 28, 2017

The issue of contention which led to two-days of chaos in the lawmaking chamber is a motion of presidential age limit. A motion introduced by MPs of the ruling party is seeking to scrap age restriction on who can vie for the presidency.

The main beneficiary of the motion is believed to be incumbent Yoweri Museveni, who at 73 years will be unable to contest in the next elections in 2022. He will have passed the limit of 75 years as per the constitution.

Uganda in a 2015 referendum scrapped term limits for the presidency in a move that allowed Museveni to contest in the 2016 elections which he won by over 60%. The opposition contested the vote saying it was a ‘fraud.’