Mbabazi asks for extension of TDA nomination deadline

By Nicholas Wassajja and Norah Mukimba

THE former Prime Minister John Patrick Amama Mbabazi has requested The Democratic Alliance (TDA) to extend its deadline for receipt of nomination forms for aspiring joint presidential candidates.

Mbabazi through his lawyer Severino Twinobusingye on Thursday wrote to TDA summit to allow him more two weeks from closure of the nomination date, to fulfill the nomination requirements.

“Our client is interested in the TDA process and another democratic force calling for change. Due to unavoidable circumstances, he has not been able to turn up for nomination today but he has requested the summit to give him more time,” Severino explained.

He expressed optimism that Mbabazi’s request will be granted because of the genuine reasons he presented but indicated that TDA was still discussing the petition and would communicate to them.

TDA, a coalition of several opposition political parties and pressure groups seeking to oust the ruling government in the 2016 poll that started its selection process for a joint candidate on August 25, had indicated September 5 as close of receipt of nominations.

They extended the deadline to close of business on Thursday (September 10) but by press time, it was not yet confirmed if they would further bend to allow Mbabazi also a former secretary general of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) an entrance.

Severino denied allegations that Mbabazi was dragging the TDA process as a delaying tactic that would work in his favor.

However, Democratic Party president Norbert Mao, who is among those Mbabazi will face off within TDA if nominated, said that Mbabazi only wants to identify with the opposition but not committed to the protocol.

“Either he is afraid of healthy competition because it doesn’t exist where he comes from (NRM), or he only wants to use us as a platform for showcasing identity with the opposition for political mileage. Otherwise why would a person whose proxies took part in the TDA protocol formation have questions to the process to the extent of stopping him from signing,” Mao wondered.

TDA director of operations Bishop Zac Niringye confirmed to New Vision that Severino on Wednesday picked nomination forms for Mbabazi and also tabled a range of proposals that he wants amended in the protocol.

Both Severino and TDA declined to reveal Mbabazi’s proposals with the former citing that he could not disclose what is under discussion and the latter saying that Mbabazi is not yet a member of TDA therefore information about their engagement was still confidential.    

According to Bishop Niringiye, Mbabazi can be nominated as an independent aspiring candidate or as a representative of a member organization to the TDA.

“For nomination the independents, one will be required to have signatures from at least five member organizations or as a representatives of a member organizations but in both circumstances, he needs to ascend signature to the protocol, the compact for free and fair elections and also accept to support any other aspirant chosen other than him,” Niringiye said.