Lawyers criticize open vote proposal
Mar 18, 2005
THE Uganda Law Society (ULS) has said open voting in Parliament would breed election violence and compromise MPs’ safety.
By Apollo Mubiru
THE Uganda Law Society (ULS) has said open voting in Parliament would breed election violence and compromise MPs’ safety.
ULS president Moses Adriko said the argument that open voting would instill political accountability and enhance effective representation was a flawed hypothesis.
The lawyers were appearing before the parliamentary committee on rules, discipline and privileges yesterday to present their views on a motion to scrap the secret ballot.
Kasanda south MP Nyombi Thembo moved a motion late last year seeking to introduce opening voting during constitutional amendment.
Flanked by ULS vice-president Andrew Kasirye, counsels John Magezi and Alex Kwesiga, Adriko said the recent electoral history exposed a pattern of election violence, intimidation and harassment between persons of divergent political inclinations.
He said there was no empirical basis to support the notion that the electorates were complaining that their MPs were voting against their wishes.
Adriko said voting for or against bills or motions was not the only representative activity MPs discharged on behalf of those who elected them.
He said their performance could be evaluated through committee proceedings or the policies they initiated.
Ends
THE Uganda Law Society (ULS) has said open voting in Parliament would breed election violence and compromise MPs’ safety.
ULS president Moses Adriko said the argument that open voting would instill political accountability and enhance effective representation was a flawed hypothesis.
The lawyers were appearing before the parliamentary committee on rules, discipline and privileges yesterday to present their views on a motion to scrap the secret ballot.
Kasanda south MP Nyombi Thembo moved a motion late last year seeking to introduce opening voting during constitutional amendment.
Flanked by ULS vice-president Andrew Kasirye, counsels John Magezi and Alex Kwesiga, Adriko said the recent electoral history exposed a pattern of election violence, intimidation and harassment between persons of divergent political inclinations.
He said there was no empirical basis to support the notion that the electorates were complaining that their MPs were voting against their wishes.
Adriko said voting for or against bills or motions was not the only representative activity MPs discharged on behalf of those who elected them.
He said their performance could be evaluated through committee proceedings or the policies they initiated.
Ends