NRM sued over nomination rules

By Andante Okanya

KAMPALA - A student of law at Kampala International University (KIU) James Okori, has petitioned court to quash the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party primary guidelines, saying they are tainted with irregularities.

On Monday, Okori, who is also a registered member of the party, filed an application for judicial review at the civil division of the High Court in Kampala.

It was filed through lawyer Isaac Ssemakadde of Centre for Legal Aid. NRM is listed as the respondent.

 

true
Last week, Mbabazi declined to pick nomination papers at the NRM party secretariat after questioning party guidelines. (Credit: Eddie Ssejjoba)

Okori is another aggrieved political hopeful.

His application is supported by an affidavit, stating that he intends to stand for the Busiro South parliamentary seat in Wakiso district.

“Under the laws of Uganda enacted for the purpose of regulating political parties and political organisations and the management of elections, the respondent does not possess the power to interfere with the fundamental rights and freedoms of the Applicant and other registered members of the respondent in the manner complained of,” the application reads in part.

Party members interested in contesting as flagbearer for the various posts in preparation for the 2016 general elections are required to pay a non-refundable fee.

For contravening these rules and regulations, various sanctions are provided for, including fines, suspension and dismissal from the race.

Okori is demanding an order prohibiting NRM from enforcing the guidelines, rules and regulations. He wants NRM aspirants to be granted unrestricted ballot access in the primaries.

Okori wants court to direct the party to refund nomination fees and other charges, alleging that it is unlawfully collected.

He wants court to pronounce that participants in the primaries are not obligated to pay nomination fees to the party.

Okori also wants court to declare that NRM does not have the power to restrain any person who has contested and lost in its primary elections from standing as an independent candidate in the general elections organised by the national electoral commission.

In his affidavit, he states that he is a card holder, a copy of which is attached among the court documents.

Okori also states that on July 16, he went to the party headquarters and was informed that before accessing the nomination forms, he had to pay a non-refundable sh2m plus sh540,000 for verification of his academic credentials.

He claims he learnt of the rules from a party member, he met for the first time. Okori says this member was gracious enough to allow him peruse through the guidelines. He says this member intimated to him that he took a loan, and paid the money for the sake of political convenience.

Okori asserts that although he did not have the opportunity to cram all the guidelines, the impression he got was that it was unrealistic.

“It is tainted with illegality, unreasonableness, irrationality and ambiguity.

Its authors bore no respect for democracy, human rights, and the rule of law,” Okori contends.

‘They will handle it’

On Monday, when New Vision sought out NRM legal team head Kiwanuka Kiryowa. He said he had not yet been served the court documents.

“I haven’t seen it yet. Let us wait,” Kiryowa said.

The chairperson of the party electoral commission Dr Tanga Odoi, also said the commission was yet to be served.

He however downplayed Okori’s appplication, saying it was a minor matter that the legal team would ably handle.

“It is not the first case against the NRM party. NRM has a pack of lawyers both on payroll and voluntary. It is no problem. They will handle it,” Odoi said.