NRM nominates four for Bubulo West by-election

Mar 06, 2014

THE NRM Electoral Commission has nominated Michael Nataka, Hajji Abas Samaali, John Simiyu and Ronnie Waluku for Bubulo West parliamentary by-elections

By Mary Karugaba and Abou Kisige

THE NRM Electoral Commission has nominated four candidates for Bubulo West parliamentary by-elections. 

They are Michael Nataka, Hajji Abas Samaali, John Simiyu and Ronnie Waluku. According to the Commission deputy chairman Elijah Mushemeza, nominations continue on Friday.

“Ten people picked nomination forms and we expect more on Friday. They could not all make it all in one day because they are coming from very far,” he said adding that the Party will meet all the nominated candidates on Monday when the campaigns start. The campaigns are expected to last 10 days.

After the nominations, the candidates said they stand for prosperity for all and vowed to abide by the party rules.

Nataka a former secretary general of Uganda Red Cross resigned his position following a scandal involving millions of shillings of alleged smuggled goods.  

The by-election following the recent Parliament pronouncement on the then MP Tony Nsubuga Kipoi over his continued absence in the House.

Kipoi ceased to be a Member of Parliament under Article 83 (1) (d) of the Constitution which states that an MP loses his seat if he misses more than 15 parliamentary sittings without a convincing explanation.

Investigations over his absence in the House were carried out by the parliamentary Rules and Discipline Committee and a report presented to the House by the standing committee of rules, privileges and discipline by the chairman, Fox Odoi.

The report was overwhelmingly supported by both the opposition and the NRM MPs.

Odoi gave an account of the various criminal acts Kipoi had been implicated in ranging from stealing, drug trafficking, treason and many other charges within Uganda and in other countries, something that angered so many Members of Parliament.

The report indicated that neither his lawyers Mukasa Mbidde nor his witness Geoffrey Ekanya gave a convincing explanation to the committee. Kipoi did not appear to defend himself.

He was however later arrested by Police in Matimuku Guest House, Njala Village, Fort Portal, Kabarole district, while he was holding a meeting with some Ugandan security officers and Congolese rebel officers.

He was transferred to the Police Special Investigations Unit in Kireka for questioning. According to Police, Kipoi and some elements in his group had plans to forcefully overthrow the Government.

In June this year, Interpol was reportedly asked to investigate Kipoi over suspected drug trafficking. This followed the arrest of Ugandan Moses Shaban Khuju in Brazil with 80 plastic capsules containing 1.19 kg of cocaine.

Meanwhile the NRM Party Electoral Commission will hold a special meeting with stakeholders to draw a roadmap for the Kampala mayor by-election.

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