Ugandan parliament descends into violence over bill allowing President Museveni to extend his 31-year term

Violent brawls broke out in Uganda’s parliament on Tuesday as lawmakers debated a controversial bill that would allow President Yoweri Museveni to extend his 31-year rule.

The bill under consideration would remove a constitutional 75-year-old age limit for presidential candidates. Mr Museveni is 73, and therefore is not eligible to run for re-election in 2021 polls under the current law.

Mr Museveni’s critics fiercely oppose the law. Tuesday’s scuffle took place after opposition lawmakers said they found plates and utensils in the parliamentary building, proof, they said, that soldiers had been watching the proceedings. Six opposition lawmakers were suspended after the disruption.

The last time the bill was debated in September, protesters marched in the streets and blows were also exchanged in parliament, with several MPs landing in the hospital after they were allegedly attacked by state security in plainclothes, according to the BBC.

Hours after Zimbabwe’s former President Robert Mugabe resigned following a coup in November, Mr Museveni announced that he would be considering pay rises for the military.

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