Uganda's president endorses move to remove presidential age limit

Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has for the first time openly backed a move by his ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) to scrap the presidential age limit ahead of the 2021 polls.

The country's upper age limit for presidential hopefuls currently stands at 75 years, meaning Museveni, now 73 years old, will be ineligible to run in the next poll if the law remains as it is.

A motion to scrap that age limit was brought to the floor of the East African country's parliament two weeks ago, igniting a physical fight between NRM and opposition MPs.

Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni /AFP Photo

The Ugandan leader is reported to have asked his party members to rally the public behind the proposed changes.

Not all members of the ruling party support the changes however, reports indicate that they were locked out of the president's meeting.

NRM has a majority in parliament, and it is likely that the bill will sail through when it is returned to the house.

Museveni has ruled Uganda since 1986 and is currently one of the longest serving African leaders.

The country's opposition is accusing the president of plotting to cling on to power by making the changes in the constitution.

MPs who support the bill, however argue that the country has no replacement for the veteran leader.

(CGTN)