Lumumba defends Museveni over EC

PIC: NRM secretary general Justine Kasule Lumumba flanked by her deputy Richard Todwong. (Credit: Roderick Ahimbazwe)

KAMPALA - Despite calls by civil society and opposition political parties for an amendment of the law under which the Electoral Commission (EC) is constituted, Justine Kasule Lumumba, the secretary general of the ruling NRM has come to President Yoweri Museveni's defense over accusations of riding roughshod over public opinion on the issue.

Last month, Museveni ended speculation as to who would succeed Eng. Badru Kiggundu as EC boss with his appointment of Justice Simon Byabakama as his successor.

In her end of year message earlier on Wednesday, Lumumba said Byabakama's appointment although in sync with the current legal framework, does not mean that the door is closed to any possibility of amendments to the Constitution to address the concerns of civil society and opposition political parties.

"As far as I am concerned, the president did not act outside the law with his appointment of a new EC team," she said.

"Most of the concerns raised by the civil society and opposition political parties are contained in pacts handed over to parliament during the recent amendment to the constitution.

"These will form part of the material that a Constitutional Review Commission will consider," Lumumba said.

The NRM official was responding to questions as to whether it will not be a fitting tribute to the fallen secretary general of the opposition Democratic Party Mathias Nsubuga who has valiantly pushed for amendments to the constitution to change the manner in which the EC is constituted.

Under the current legal framework, the president has powers to appoint the EC chairperson, his/her deputy and all commissioners.

Critics of the current arrangement contend that credible elections cannot be conducted by an EC where one of the candidates has powers to constitute it.

Before the next election cycle, parliament will sanction a string of constitutional amendments. Among issues that are expected to be a bone of contention between NRM and the opposition is ending an incumbent president's power to appoint an EC team.