By Halima Athumani
KAMPALA, Uganda (AA) - Ugandans watching the debate over lifting the presidential age limit were dealt a blow Wednesday, after a house floor brawl resulted in a ban on live parliamentary broadcasts.
In announcing the ban, Godfrey Mutabazi, the head of Uganda’s Communications Commission, complained of “live broadcasts which are inciting the public, discriminating, stirring up hatred, [and] promoting a culture of violence."
Parliament descended into chaos on Tuesday after an opposition legislator claimed that a ruling party representative had brought a gun to the house floor.
Local media aired the brawl live as legislators threw punches and hit each other with chairs.
When Speaker Rebecca Kadaga ordered a search, no gun was found.
Emotions are running high over the bill to scrap the age cap, which would let President Yoweri Museveni -- in power since 1986 -- run for reelection in 2021, when he is older than the previous maximum age of 75.
In 2006 Museveni was able to win a third term in office after the two-term limit was abolished the previous year.