MPs disagree on election mode for special interest groups

By Mary Karugaba & Moses Mulondo

Government has tabled in Parliament four Bills proposing a new mode of election for the representatives of women, youth, elderly and persons with disability at lower levels.

According to the Bills, government wants the election mode changed from secret ballot to lining up.

Article 68 (1) of the constitution provides that election for public offices should be conducted by secret ballot.
 
The Bills are; The National Women’s Council Amendment Bill 2015, The Youth National Council Amendment Bill 2015, and The National Council for Disability amendment Bill 2015 and The National Council for Elderly Persons Amendment Bill 2015.

All the Bills seeks to amend election modes from secret ballot to lining up. The Youth amendment Bill also seeks to extend the term of office of the representatives from four to five years.

Tabling the Bills Tuesday, the Minister for Gender Muruli Mukasa requested Parliament to suspend rule 118 of the rules of procedure and pass the Bills immediately without going through the committee as the norm.

Rules 118 require that Bills tabled in the house should first be discussed in the committees before they are passed by the House.

Mukasa argued that the Bills were urgently needed to enable the electoral commission conduct elections for the special interest groups.

According to the EC election roadmap for 2016 elections, nomination of candidates for Village Youth, PWDs and Older Persons Committees elections at Sub County level, will take place from August 27, 2015 and close on September 10, 2015.

“The Bills have only one amendment each. We don’t need to go through the committee because it will take a lot of time. I request Parliament to discuss them now and pass them,” he said.

MPs Betty Namboze, Wafula Ogutu, William Nzonghu, Harriet Ntabazi (NRM) opposed the move saying   the stakeholders should be given an opportunity to contribute to the Bills.

“How can you legislate for people without giving them an opportunity to contribute to the law that is going to govern them? For them to be able to contribute, the Bills must be in the committee,” Nzonghu argued.

Wafula argued that some individuals were already contemplating taking government to court over the election of LCs.

“We know the law is needed urgently but we should be given at least one day to consult the stakeholders on what they think about the bill. We should not be stampeded with bills as if parliament is ending today, where the government has been?” he asked.

But MPs Rose Sseninde, Peter Ogwang, William Nokorach and Jacob Oboth argued the members to allow Parliament debate the bills and pass them immediately saying there was no time.

“Parliament is breaking off this week for recess, when the committee will meet to discuss these bills. Any delay will affect the electoral process for these categories,” Sseninde said.

Deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanyah said it was not possible to send the bill to the committee and urged members to allow them discussed by the House.

He however suspended debate to allow members consult the stakeholders on phone and resume the debate Wednesday.