[NEWS AFRICA] Uganda MPs brawl during presidential age-limit debate

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Media captionChairs were thrown during the debate in parliament

Chaotic scenes broke out in Uganda's parliament as MPs debated the contentious removal of the presidential age limit.

Tempers flared and lawmakers were filmed brawling after it was alleged an MP had brought a gun into the chamber.

The speaker ordered a search but no gun was found, local media reported.

The age-limit issue is controversial because long-standing President Yoweri Museveni is 73 years old and the limit for re-election is capped at 75.

Image captionDemonstrations were held last week against the bill that could allow President Museveni to run again in 2021

President Museveni has been in power since 1986 and democratically elected as president since 1996.

• Find out more about Uganda
• Who is President Museveni?

But the current constitutional age limit would prevent him from standing for a sixth term in the 2021 elections.

His governing party, the National Resistance Movement (NRM), has been involved in a contentious bill to revise the country's constitution.

A previous two-term limit was scrapped in 2005 to allow President Museveni to stand for a third term.

Image copyrightREUTERS

Image captionPresident Museveni originally seized power in 1986 as head of a rebel army

The scuffles broke out on Tuesday during a plenary session after the parliament speaker allowed the constitutional amendment to be presented to MPs.

Local media reported that it took 20 minutes for the commotion to calm down.

Earlier, police had fired tear gas at some protesters in the capital Kampala before the debate began.

A leading opposition figure was also reportedly arrested trying to mobilise protesters, a police spokesperson said.

Last week, parliament had to be adjourned after opposition MPs chanted, heckled and whistled over the age-limit issue.

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