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Uganda soldiers 'intrude' on Parliament – MPs

Tuesday December 19 2017
UG parl

Uganda parliament during a session on September 27, 2017. Speaker Rebecca Kadaga suspends the plenary until 2pm as she investigates the MPs claims. PHOTO FILE | NATION

By MONITOR

Debate on Uganda’s presidential age limit has been suspended after opposition MPs protested alleged presence of soldiers at Parliament.

Amuru District Woman MP Lucy Akello said she found the soldiers occupying both the Catholic and Anglican Chaplaincy prayer places in Parliament.

Some MPs said they found guns and urine in plastic bottles in the nearby Catholic Church.

Lawmakers allied to the opposition and those opposed to the motion had expressed fears over their safety during the debate.

Scores have been arrested and locked up for opposing the motion that political pundits say seeks to extend President Yoweri Museveni’s 31-year rule.

Mr Museveni, who has been accused of rigging past polls, is seeking to defend his seat in the country's 2021 General Election.

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The MPs on Tuesday questioned why soldiers were at Parliament yet the speaker had assured them that they would be guarded by police.

Speaker Rebecca Kadaga suspended the plenary until 2pm as she investigates the lawmakers’ claims.

More follows.

READ: Uganda MPs vote to remove presidential age limit

ALSO READ:Echoes of 1966 as guns return to parliament over Constitution

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