Ugandan EALA MPs not impostors — Attorney General

By Andante Okanya

The Attorney General Peter Nyombi has dismissed claims that Uganda's nine representatives at the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) are impostors.

The AG's response dated August 7 this year is in rebuttal to a suit filed by two aggrieved youth who claim to be from the NRM party.

According to the petition filed on July 31, Jeremiah Birungi Kamurali and Aarali Byaruhanga want court to declare that the nine representatives were not scrutinized by the Parliament vetting committee.

The elections were held on May 30.

But senior State attorney Elisha Bafirawala from the AG's office has sworn an affidavit, dismissing the duo's assertions as baseless.

"The petition is frivolous, vexatious, misconceived and bad in law. The plaintiffs do not have locus to bring the petition, therefore they are not entitled to any remedies sought," Bafirawala states, noting that the MPs were legally elected after being vetted by Parliament.

The nine representatives are Margaret Nantongo(NRM), Suzan Nakawuki (Independent), Dennis Mukasa Mbidde(DP),Chris Opoka (UPC), Bernard Mulengani (NRM), Dan Fred Kidega(NRM), NusuraTiperu(NRM), Dora Byamukama(NRM), and Mike Kennedy Sebalu (NRM).

The duo petitioners claim they presented themselves for nomination at Parliament but were denied the opportunity.

Also sued is East African Community Secretary General Dr Richard Sezibera.

They also claim that the election was not in accordance with Articles 1 and 50 of the National Assembly rules, which provide for the election of special interest groups like youth and the disabled.

They state that none of the political parties represented catered for the special interest groups.

According to the two, Sezibera erred when he allowed the nine to take oath, ‘when not duly elected’.

Accordingly, the duo is seeking a declaration that the exclusion of the special interest groups was unlawful. Court is yet to fix a hearing date.

But Bafirawala states that the petitioners were not qualified, which explains why they were not nominated.

The case file has been allocated to Justice Elizabeth Musoke. However, a hearing date is yet to be fixed. Sezibera is yet to file his defence.

Meanwhile, there is also a pending FDC petition at the East African Court of Justice in Arusha protesting NRM's majority representation at EALA.