NRM throws out rebel MPs

By Vision Reporter

The ruling NRM has thrown out rebels Members of Parliament from the party. The verdict means that Theodore Sekikubo (Lwemiyaga), Mohammed Nsereko (Kampala Central), Wilfred Niwagaba (Ndorwa East) and Barnabas Tinkasimire (Buyaga) cease being considered NRM MPs.

The top party organ, Central Executive Committee (CEC) convened over the weekend adopted the disciplinary committee’s recommendation to expel rebel MPs.

Rwampara CountyMP Kyamadidi was suspended for three months.

The affected MPs were summoned by the NRM disciplinary committee to defend themselves against allegations of indiscipline but never turned up on several occasions.

They are accused of violating the party’s code of conduct by defying party positions in Parliament and hobnobbing with members of the opposition.

The committee was chaired by the party vice-chairman, Moses Kigongo. Other members are Mondo Kagonyera, Dora Byamukama, Mike Sebalu, Lillian Abalo, Beatrice Wabudeya as well as party Secretary General Amama Mbabazi.

In an interview recently with the New Vision, Justine Lumumba, the NRM Chief Whip said that party was ready to do away with the rebel MPs if convicted.   

Lumumba added that that the party would better work with the opposition than the rebel MPs within the party.
“What is the essence of having big numbers that are not useful to you? You would rather have people pulling you from the other side,” Lumumba said.

She explained that it was high time rebel MPs realized that under a multiparty dispensation, that one is either with the ruling Government, an independent or with the opposition.  

“If you disagree with that arrangement under multi-party system, you resign. But these MPs have gone very far. That is individual indiscipline,” Lumumba said.

NRM party spokesperson Ofwono Opondo added that there is no institution in the world built on indiscipline and that it was the reason the four rebel MPs will go.

“Discipline makes institutions stronger and more durable. Do you think the Catholic Church will get weaker after expelling Fr. Musala?” Ofwono asked. “If they are guilty of the offense, the punishment is expulsion.”

Ofwono said NRM party would get stronger if the MPs are expelled.
Ofwono said, “If we go back for the by-elections, NRM will win some seats but even if we were to lose all of them, our majority across board will not be shaken.”

He noted that the main reason why the rebels MPs were not voluntarily quitting NRM was that they are not sure of an outright victory in case of a by-election.

But when contacted for a comment, Tinkasimire said they were ready for a show down with the flag bearers of NRM in case of a by-election.

“You joke with the will of the masses. Let NRM be tempted to remove us from Parliament, they will learn a lesson. They will not garner 10% of the total votes in any of our Constituencies,” he said.

A leading Kampala lawyer said the fate of the MPs is not very clear. " In my opinion, I don’t think the MPS will lose their seats. The Constitution (Art. 83) provides for instances where an MP would lose his parliamentary seat. The provision to do with departure form a political party is on voluntary departure and not expulsion," she said.

Adding that, "It states that an MP shall loose his seat if he/she leaves the political party for which he or she stood as a candidate for election to Parliament to join another party or to remain in Parliament as an independent member. In this case, the MPs have been expelled. "

"Most probably, they would have wanted to belong to NRM so their departure is involuntary. It is not that they have left NRM for other political parties or to be independent members."