Uganda's Museveni set for 'life presidency' after court ruling

A lawyer for a group of Ugandan opposition leaders has warned that President Yoweri Museveni, 73, is heading for a "life presidency" after a court upheld a constitutional amendment scrapping presidential age limits.

Previously the law required presidential contenders to be under the age of 75 and would have blocked Museveni, president since 1986, from seeking re-election in polls due in 2021.

But a bill removing the limit was introduced in parliament in September and signed into law in December, sparking demonstrations and an outcry from the opposition which accuses Museveni of a power grab.

A group of opposition figures brought the judicial review heard by judges in a marathon session yesterday.

"The court has entrenched a life presidency -- one man rule," said human rights lawyer Ladislaus Rwakafuzi who represented the coalition seeking to have age limits reinstated.

"I think our judges lacked the courage to tell the president he's been around long enough."