Independents decry NRM process for readmission

Aug 06, 2015

As Parliament considers the constitutional amendments on independent MPs, the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) has said those who plan to contest on the party ticket must apply to be readmitted as party members.

By Alfred Wandera and David Lumu

As Parliament considers the constitutional amendments on independent MPs, the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) has said those who plan to contest on the party ticket must apply to be readmitted as party members.

NRM deputy spokesperson, Ofwono Opondo, has said once Parliament passes the amendment on Article 83 (1)(g) of the Constitution, the independent MPs who are NRM leaning will be required to apply to the Central Executive Committee (CEC) in order to be readmitted into the party.

“The moment they apply to be readmitted and CEC considers their application, it will ask the NRM electoral commission to grant them a window to pick forms of expression of interest for their respective constituencies so that they can be able to participate in the forthcoming primary elections,” Opondo said.

Article 83(1)(g) in its current form, states that a Member of Parliament shall vacate his or her seat in Parliament if that person 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.

However, in the Amendment Bill by the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, it proposes there to be a provision to amend Article 83(1)(g) to the effect that a Member of Parliament is free to leave a party that sponsored them to Parliament 12 months to the election time without losing their seat.

Government has conceded to allow this amendment be passed.

If passed, the amendment will also cover the rebel MPs Theodore Ssekikubo, Muhammad Nsereko, Barnabas Tinkasiimire and Wilfred Niwagaba, who were expelled from NRM over alleged indiscipline.

This amendment was driven by the NRM leaning independents during the NRM parliamentary caucus meeting in Kyankwanzi early this year.

Opondo explained that the rebel MPs will also follow the same procedure as the independent MPs in order to be readmitted into the party and granted a window to pick forms of expression of interest for their respective constituencies.

He noted the CEC has granted President Museveni two more weeks to engage the rebel MPs so that they can be readmitted into the party.

NRM electoral commission chief, Dr. Odoi Tanga, last week told New Vision that if the amendment is not passed, the independent MPs who are NRM leaning will be required to resign their positions in Parliament first if they are to be allowed to pick forms of expression of interest to participate in the party primaries.

Ssekikubo last Friday turned up at the NRM secretariat at Plot 10 Kyadondo Road to show solidarity with President Yoweri Museveni when he picked his forms of expression of interest for the positions of NRM chairman and presidential flag-bearer.

“We are waiting to have the last meeting with the President so that we can be allowed back into the party. We are ready to rejoin the party,” Ssekikubo said.

Kenneth Lubogo and Mariam Nalubega – Bulamogi County MP and Butambala district Woman MP respectively – who are independent and NRM leaning, yesterday said the condition set of applying to CEC in order to be readmitted into the party is tedious and unfair.

Speaking to New Vision in separate interviews; they insisted that they would rather contest as independents than being bogged down by the set bureaucracy.

Meanwhile, the race for NRM top positions is continuing to heat up with the members of the Entrepreneurs League vowing to replace the incumbent, businessman Hassan Basajjabalaba, who according to Opondo, did not pick forms for the position.

The exit of Basajjabalaba has drawn more people into the race including Mukesh Shukla, Godfrey Seruwagi and Robert Mwesigwa Rukari.

The race for national chairperson for Women’s League has attracted the deputy special representative of the chairperson of African Union Commission (DSRCC) in Somalia, Lydia Wanyoto Mutende, who is also eying Mbale district Woman MP Seat, East African Legislative Assembly MP, Nusura Tiperu and Dr. Elizabeth Lugudde.

Tezira Jamwa, a former Constituent Assembly (CA) delegate and an activist for women affairs, is contesting for the position of vice-chairperson of women’s league for eastern region.