FDC asks for more seats

THE Forum for Democratic change (FDC) wants more slots for both the Pan African Parliament (AU) and the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).

By Apollo Mubiru

THE Forum for Democratic change (FDC) wants more slots for both the Pan African Parliament (AU) and the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).

FDC secretary for foreign affairs Reagan Okumu yesterday said the one-third of the five MPs to the AU allocated to the opposition was slightly above the one slot allocated to them. NRM last week endorsed four MPs to the AU and FDC got one.

He also complained that the three slots allocated to the opposition of the nine EALA MPs do not reflect the two-thirds. He said the six MPS from NRM plus the minister for East Africa Affairs and the Attorney General Uganda is supposed to produce brings the number to eight, which is above NRM’s allocated slot.

“We are supposed to produce three MPs. NRM will send six plus the minister for EAC affairs and the Attorney General who will all be sworn in as MPs. Government has written informing us of our slot of three but we are not contented and we feel cheated,” Okumu told journalists.

He said in the meantime FDC would consider the three MPs to represent the opposition to the EALA.

Okumu told journalists at the FDC weekly press briefing at Najjanakumbi that as the party’s secretary for foreign affairs he was contented with the service of Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu and Wandera Ogalo in EALA, who deserve another term.

“Although I haven’t talked to the duo, I will propose to the party that Gen. Muntu and Hon. Ogalo be returned to EALA. To my conviction these are people who have stood by the party and they are still vibrant,” Okumu said.

FDC spokesperson Wafula Oguttu challenged the Director of Public prosecution, Richard Butera, to prove that presidential legal aide Fox Odoi had no case to answer over allegations of terrorising people in Tororo in the February 23 elections.

Court last week dropped the case against Odoi on the recommendation of the DPP.
Wafula said, “He should prove that Odoi has no case to answer.”