Different medical practitioners under the registered Uganda Medical Association (UMA) in Uganda, plan to team up and make a thorough research on the capability of a 75 year old person to physically and mentally be a president of a nation.
This comes after members of the NRM, ruling party sought to amend the Ugandan Constitution to lift the age limit, though are being hindered by the opposition parties that vow to have the constitution protected at any cost.
The wished to be amended article (102 b) in the constitution, bars a below 35 and an above 75 person from contesting for the presidency of the country.
Dr Anthony Ekwaro Obuku, the UMA association’s president, informed the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs committee, on Wednesday 1, November 2017 afternoon that the panel of seasoned experts will beef up its research in ascertaining the competences of a 75-year-old, in the wake of strong debate on the age limit bill.
It had been reported that the President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni during different interviews with several journalists, time back, brought to people’s attention that a 75 year old person doesn’t have enough zeal, mental and physical ability to run a country – a matter that is yet to be researched further about.
Dr Obuku revealed to the legislators that the medical specialists lined up on the panel include a physiologist to look at the body functions of a 75-year old, a psychiatrist to look at the behavioral and cognition functions, a pathologist, a neurologist to look at the physical state of nerves and the brain as well as a geriatrician, a medical doctor who specializes in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease and disability in older adults.
The doctor also explained that the association will work hand in hand with the international agencies ready to support the initiative.
‘Due to the importance of this subject to the future of the country, this job needs to be thoroughly done. It is a job that has huge implications on the country. We are going through a thorough process looking at research from all over the world,’ he stated.
Members of the committee responsible for the Ugandan constitution are currently scrutinizing and discussing the bill for the betterment of the country, and when ready, give a final word if the constitution should be amended or not.
Dr. Obuku on behalf of the entire medical team sought for between two to four weeks to get done with their high profile research – as they termed it, and later present the findings to the committee.
Jacob Oboth-Oboth, the Committee Chairperson granted the medical team panel just two weeks and after return and present their findings.
Reporter: Shamilah Namuddu
