DP petitions Parliament over new EC appointments

DP president Nobert Mao delivered the petition to Speaker Kadaga.

Democratic Party (DP) president Nobert Mao has petitioned Parliament, to stay the vetting of the newly nominated commissioners of the Electoral Commission (EC) citing impartiality of the appointing authority.

Last week President Yoweri Museveni nominated six candidates to head the EC. This follows Dr. Badru Kiggundu's 14-year tenure as EC chairperson which ended on November 17th.

Court of Appeal judge Simon Mugenyi Byabakama was appointed EC chairperson.

Others are Hajjat Aisha Lubega (vice chairperson), commissioners Peter Emorut, former Kajara MP Steven Tashobya, Prof George Piwang and Mustapha Ssebaggala Kigozi.

The nominees are expected appear before the Parliamentary Appointments Committee headed by Speaker Rebecca Kadaga for vetting.

Mao was accompanied by DP secretary general, Mathias Nsubuga and Bukoto East MP Florence Namayanja. The petition is also copied to the leader of opposition in Parliament Winnie Kiiza and Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda.

The 2 paged petition addressed to Kadaga reads "On behalf of DP I write to present to you this petition asking your office and Parliament to stay the vetting of the newly nominated EC members following our grievances,"

"Last July members comprising of all political parties in Parliament, in their meeting with President Yoweri Museveni at State House agreed that the process of appointing the new EC would include all political actors, compete with confidence, independence and impartiality, but this has not been achieved" the petition reads.

"I am sure if you engage the President he will agree that appointing the EC needs consensus on legal reforms that is why a middle ground was proposed to extend the term of the outgoing EC to allow time for consultations" the petitions adds.

"The President's recent action of acting unilaterally albeit within the existing laws to appoint a new EC, if not reviewed, will undermine the spirit of Inter Party Organization for Dialogue (IPOD) irreparably" the petition reads.

The petition also raised concerns about the procedure for vetting presidential nominees which excludes the public from making presentations to the parliamentary appointments committee on the suitability of candidates for public offices.

"We know that Parliament is revising its rules of procedure, we have prepared proposals for amending the rules. It would be prejudicial to our case for reforms of the rules if the new EC is vetted under the old rules" the petition adds.

"It is of our view that presidential appointees be subjected to scrutiny by the appointing committee with input from the concerned public, and there after the whole House gives final approval," the petition said.