Army to replace Tumukunde today
Jun 16, 2005
The Electoral Commission (EC) last evening announced that the by-elections to replace Brig. Henry Tumukunde as the UPDF representative in Parliament shall be held today at Bombo army headquarters.
By Hillary Kiirya
The Electoral Commission (EC) last evening announced that the by-elections to replace Brig. Henry Tumukunde as the UPDF representative in Parliament shall be held today at Bombo army headquarters.
A statement signed by the EC chairperson, Eng. Badru Kiggundu, said the EC gazetted the polling date on receiving the notification of the vacant seat from the Clerk to Parliament. But it was not specified when the date was gazetted.
On Monday, Tumukunde filed an application in the High Court seeking an order restraining the EC, the Army High Command and the Army Council from replacing him until his petition is disposed of.
Tumukunde alleges that President Yoweri Museveni, the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, forced him to resign his seat in Parliament. He said this was unconstitutional and illegal.
But the Attorney General has said Tumukunde was not forced to resign from Parliament.
Responding to Tumukunde’s petition in the Constitutional Court, the Attorney General filed his defence, among other things, stating that the officer’s resignation was effective and not unconstitutional.
An affidavit sworn by State Attorney Angela Kiryabwire said, “There is no evidence of a forceful and unlawful order from the Commander-in-Chief to Tumukunde to resign his seat.â€
In his petition, Tumukunde said Museveni, during a meeting of senior UPDF officers on May 27, directed him to resign.
In his resignation letter to the Speaker of Parliament, Tumukunde said, “I was summoned to a meeting by the Commander of the UPDF on May 27, to which I complied. During the meeting attended by the UPDF High Command, I was directed to write to you, Mr. Speaker, resigning.
This as a directive had a deadline of 12 hours. This explains my writing on a weekend. The purpose of this communication is to draw your attention to the above directive and to accordingly comply. Please, do not hesitate to contact me if you need any further clarifications.â€
The letter was copied to Museveni and the UPDF Forces Council.
Ends
The Electoral Commission (EC) last evening announced that the by-elections to replace Brig. Henry Tumukunde as the UPDF representative in Parliament shall be held today at Bombo army headquarters.
A statement signed by the EC chairperson, Eng. Badru Kiggundu, said the EC gazetted the polling date on receiving the notification of the vacant seat from the Clerk to Parliament. But it was not specified when the date was gazetted.
On Monday, Tumukunde filed an application in the High Court seeking an order restraining the EC, the Army High Command and the Army Council from replacing him until his petition is disposed of.
Tumukunde alleges that President Yoweri Museveni, the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, forced him to resign his seat in Parliament. He said this was unconstitutional and illegal.
But the Attorney General has said Tumukunde was not forced to resign from Parliament.
Responding to Tumukunde’s petition in the Constitutional Court, the Attorney General filed his defence, among other things, stating that the officer’s resignation was effective and not unconstitutional.
An affidavit sworn by State Attorney Angela Kiryabwire said, “There is no evidence of a forceful and unlawful order from the Commander-in-Chief to Tumukunde to resign his seat.â€
In his petition, Tumukunde said Museveni, during a meeting of senior UPDF officers on May 27, directed him to resign.
In his resignation letter to the Speaker of Parliament, Tumukunde said, “I was summoned to a meeting by the Commander of the UPDF on May 27, to which I complied. During the meeting attended by the UPDF High Command, I was directed to write to you, Mr. Speaker, resigning.
This as a directive had a deadline of 12 hours. This explains my writing on a weekend. The purpose of this communication is to draw your attention to the above directive and to accordingly comply. Please, do not hesitate to contact me if you need any further clarifications.â€
The letter was copied to Museveni and the UPDF Forces Council.
Ends