Opposition’s prediction that Museveni’s appearance on ballot in 2021 hangs in balance, seem to have spread into the NRM house as some of the members of the ruling party rushes to court challenging their boss’ sole candidature.
Shortly after City lawyer Male Hasan Mabiriizi and opposition kingpin Kizza Besigye vowed to fight up and down to see Museveni off the ballot in 2021, Eleven Members of Parliament have petitioned the Constitutional Court demanding a declaration that the endorsement of President Yoweri Museveni as the sole candidate in 2021 general elections is illegal.
The MPS are; Theodore Ssekikubo , Lwemiyaga County, Barnabas Tinkasimire Buyaga west, John Baptist Nambeshe Manjiya County, Oshabe Patrick Nsamba for Kassanda North , Mbwatatekamwa Gaffa for Kasambya County, Samuel Lyomoki Workers MP, Silvia Akello for Otuke District, Susan Amero , Amuria District , James Acdri Maracha East County and Bildad Moses Adome for Jie County.
The MPS are represented by Alaka and Company Advocates, Niwagaba Advocates and Solicitors and Barirere , Muhangi and Company Advocates.
The MPs through their lawyers’ state that the resolution adopted at Chobe Safari Lodge on February 19th 2019 declaring President Yoweri Kaguta as the party’s sole candidate in the fourth coming elections is inconsistent with several articles of the Constitution of Uganda.
The resolution was made by the party’s top organ Central Executive Committee (CEC) but now the petitioners state that CEC doesn’t have the mandate to endorse Museveni. This is because CEC which passed the resolution to endorse Museveni for 2021 elections and beyond allegedly lacked the mandate and legitimacy since its term of office expires on June 30th, 2020.
They further state that the decision made by the NRM Chief Whip and the Chairperson NRM Parliamentary caucus in blocking them from attending the seven-day retreat in Kyankwanzi in March 2019 is also arbitrary because they were never given a right to fair hearing.
Between March 13 and 20th 2019, the NRM Parliamentary caucus also discussed and declared Museveni’s sole candidature in 2021 and beyond.
However, the eleven legislators state that the endorsement of the president excludes all other aspiring NRM members from offering themselves as presidential candidates in in the coming elections.
According to the NRM Constitution, every member shall have a right to take part in the discussions at the organ where he or she belongs, a right to attend meetings of such organ and a right to take part in nomination papers, organize and conduct elections.
But the MPs now say that Museveni who is now the Chairperson NRM CEC has since gained the advantage as a result of the overwhelming incumbency to extract personal interest following the endorsement.
“Political parties and the nascent multi-party democracy are vehicles for interest articulation and interest aggregation without which, there will be waning of peace, order, security and tranquility- the hallmarks of rule of law and constitutionalism,” their petition reads in part. The court is yet to fix this case for hearing. For comments, call or text us on 0752510225.
