NRM MPs told to back UPC, DP and JEEMA candidates in EALA polls

KAMPALA, UGANDA: MPs from the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) have been told to support opposition candidates from Democratic Party DP), Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) and Justice Forum (JEEMA) in the forthcoming East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) elections.

The directive was made by President Museveni, the national chairman of the party during the caucus held on Friday, September 16 at Kololo Independence Grounds in Kampala.

The newly appointed Government Chief Whip Hamson Obua confirmed the development yesterday evening saying the decision was made to foster a healthy relationship between the ruling party and these ‘friendly’ opposition parties to maximise the slots in the EALA.

“It is public knowledge that under the IPOD there is some minimum cooperation with some political parties and out of them with we have Uganda People’s Congress, we have Democratic Party, we have JEEMA and all these three parties have candidates. We believe that members of NRM arising from our minimum cooperation with these political parties will be able to choose the representatives from within the three,” Hamson Obua said.

DP has endorsed its Secretary General Mr Gerald Siranda, UPC has Fred Ebil, while JEEMA has fronted Mr Muhammad Kateregga as their respective candidates to vie for the three slots available out of the possible none.

During the same meeting, the caucus also unanimously approved the decision by the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) to retain the six incumbent representatives for the EALA slots as the president advised the members not to repeat the embarrassment suffered by former EALA Mp Margret Nantongo Zziwa.

The six representatives are Ms Rose Akol, Mr James Kakooza, Ms Mary Mugyenyi, Mr Paul Musamali, Mr Denis Namara, and Mr George Stephen Odongo.

“The reason we recommended that we maintain these six are two: one, the precedent that we started in the past is that when we send representatives to EALA, we give them a second chance,” President Museveni said.

According to him, the other reason was the cohesion shown by the six members during their concluding tenure. “In the past, we have had disharmony of our members but this group has behaved differently. They have been cohesive. They have performed well as a group,” H. E Museveni said.

The NRM Chief Whip Mr Hamson Obua rallied members of the Caucus to support the party candidates when they are presented to Parliament.

“The road map is out; nominations are on September 19 and 20, 2022, and polling day is September 29, 2022. Please, commit to ensure that the decision of the Caucus is upheld as we move towards the voting day,” Mr Obua said.

Parliament has 529 MPs who will form an electoral college which will elect the EALA representatives. Each of the five East African Community partner states elects nine representatives to EALA every five years.