'Inactive' party fights EC de-registration threat

By Andante Okanya

One of the 10 political parties under threat of de-registration from the Electoral Commission (EC) over purported inactivity, has accused the electoral body of deliberately snubbing them on issues of national importance.

The lamentations of the Movement for Democratic Change(MDC), are contained in the affidavit of its president Johnson Mutiibwa, filed at the High Court in Kampala.

The affidavit was sworn in response to a petition filed by the EC this year on July 16. EC is seeking to de-register the parties on grounds that they have not updated their profiles in the commission's records.

But Mutiibwa states that on October 30, 2007, the party expressed its dissatisfaction with EC’s conduct, in a letter to the Speaker of Parliament.

“The answer is in the list of registered political parties which electoral commission gave to Parliament, in which MDC is not there. This means that it is the intention of the Electoral Commission to disregard the MDC as a political party,” Mutiibwa states.

The party registered  on July 28, 2004, has pleaded that the matter be settled out of court, saying not all the perceived active parties, have complied with EC rules and regulations.

Additionally, MDC accuses EC of bias, and is demanding that the registration of political parties be handled by the registrar of companies or the judiciary.

The party states that it has submitted its audited books of accounts for the years 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009.

The 10 political parties, together with Government's chief legal advisor the Attorney General(AG), are listed as respondents. The other political parties are Action Party(registered December 15, 2004),Bridge Party(registered October 13, 2005), Progressive Alliance Party(registered April 13, 2005), Uganda Mandate Party(registered  March 22, 2005), and New Order Democracy( registered October 15, 2005).

Also listed are Others are People's Independent Party(registered April 7, 2004), National Redemption Party(registered December 14, 2005), Movement Volunteers Mobilisers Organisation(registered March 22, 2005), and Reform Party(registered March 22, 2005).

Court documents show that in letters dated  May 2, 2013 written by the EC secretary Sam Rwakoojo, and addressed to the secretary generals of the listed parties, the electoral body's resolution was outlined in a strongly-worded statement. He also castigated them for failing to hold delegates  conferences to elect executive members.

Rwakoojo stated that Section nine of the Political Parties and Organisations Act, 2005, requires that every political party within 60 days after  expiry of the first year, and after issuance of certificate of  registration, to submit to EC its updated records.

The case file has been allocated to Justice Stephen Musota. Hearing date  is scheduled for September 23. Other parties are yet to respond.