NRM retains EALA MPs, Wanyoto out

By Vision Reporter   

NRM Parliamentary caucus has retained their incumbent MPs to the regional Parliament (EALA).

The caucus however did not approve Lydia Wanyoto to run for a third term. An East African Legislative Assembly MP serves for two terms according to the treaty which established EALA.

 MPs Dorah Byamukama, Nusura Tiperu, Bernard Mulengani, Mike Sebalu, Margaret Zziwa and Dan Kidega are now eligible for elections next week. Over 20 people had expressed interest to represent NRM to EALA.

Meanwhile, the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga Tuesday adjourned the House prematurely to next week to allow the NRM and the opposition agree on how to share the 9 slots each member country sends to the regional parliament.

Both the Leader of Government business in Parliament, Premier Amama Mbabazi and the Leader of the opposition Parliament Nandala Mafabi told the House that they had not generated consensus over the matter.  

Nomination of candidates kicked off Monday but the five opposition parties in Parliament resolved to boycott the polls until their petition before the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) is heard.

The five opposition parties are the Forum for Democratic Change, Democratic Party, Uganda People’s Congress, JEEMA and Conservative Party.

They are challenging the formula for electing MPs to the EALA, which the ruling NRM argues should be based on numerical strength.

NRM wants six of the nine seats. This leaves only three seats for FDC, UPC, DP, JEEMA and CP.

The opposition argues that this is contrary to a recent East African Court ruling that all parties in Parliament be represented in EALA as spelt out under Article 50 of the treaty for the creation of the East African Community.

Opposition leader Nadala Mafabi yesterday said: “We cannot participate in these elections until we agree on how they will be held. We will not be bulldozed because this is about law, not numbers.”