KAMPALA, Uganda: Ugandan opposition legislators opposed to the lifting of the presidential age limit from the constitution are facing “death threats”.
On Tuesday morning, hand grenades were thrown into the houses of two legislators, police have confirmed.
The two are among the 25 legislators, who were forcefully thrown out of the parliament last week before the ruling National Resistance Movement moved a motion, seeking time to prepare a bill to lift the presidential age limit.
If lifted, 73-year-old President Yoweri Museveni, who has been in power for the last three decades would be allowed to run for reelection in 2021 past the age of 75 years currently prohibited by the constitution.
Robert Kyagulanyi, an independent legislator, said he has received anonymous threatening calls and had been trailed since last week. “I have been receiving calls, telling me that they are actually going to kill me if I do not stop opposing the removal of the age limit.”
“Last night three grenades were thrown at the window of my son. Two days ago, two similar grenades were thrown right behind my house at the plantation,” he added.
However, Ofwono Opondo, a government spokesperson in a tweet said: “The flash bang grenades at opposition MPs’ residences could be own scare tactics to frame government.”
“Flash bang grenades are used for training purposes, not harmful. Some opposition elements could have acquired them,” he added.
Kayima Emiliano, Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesman, confirmed the three incidents saying they received two phone calls from the legislators’ homes. “We have recovered valuable items to help in our investigations.”
“We have established with the help of our experts that these are factory made hand grenades with less shattering effects. We have already submitted these recovered items to the government analytical laboratory for examination,” Emiliano added.
