NATIONAL NEWS , Monday, February 6, 2017 3

President with the 43 NRM party aspirants for the EALA after a meeting at State House Entebbe on Saturday. PPU photo ASPIRANTS Of the nine slots has, NRM NRM CEC approves has six slots while the remaining three will be shared among FDC, DP and UPC

By Henry Sekanjako 43 for EALA seats and Mary Karugaba

As the race for the East Africa Legislative Assembly (EALA) heats up, the National while the remaining will be shared among groups such as people with disabilities, and taking internal politics to EALA, just like Resistance Movement (NRM) central the remaining parties — Democratic Party women and Independents to be represented some Ugandan members of the outgoing executive committee (CEC) has approved 43 (DP), Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) at the regional assembly. EALA did,” Odoi explained. nominees to contest for the positions. and the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC). A source that attended the meeting said Henry Banyezaki, a former minister for In a meeting at State House Entebbe on Other sources, however, intimated that the the committee agreed that the ballot paper economic monitoring and an EALA aspirant, Saturday, the party’s top organ gave each NRM would take five slots with FDC, DP, should be designed to guide members to noted that Uganda needs to send to EALA aspirant seven minutes to tell CEC members UPC and Independents taking one each. vote according to article 50 (1) of the EAC politically and intellectually sober-minded why they want to represent Uganda at the The current EALA term expires in June, protocol. Ugandans to lobby and negotiate for the regional assembly, and agreed to send all with more than half of the Uganda’s Article 50 (1) states that the National country’s economic interests. the 43 to the parliamentary caucus for voting representatives, who were first elected in Assembly of each partner state shall elect, “Some of these people we want to send to tomorrow. 2007, expected to exit. All the current NRM not from its members, nine members of EALA have never even occupied any public “CEC spent the better part of Saturday representatives in EALA are not eligible for the assembly, who shall represent as much office and they want to represent Uganda afternoon vetting all the candidates. We voting. as feasible, the various political parties at the regional assembly. What are they looked at their papers, areas of strength and Odoi, however, noted that three candidates represented in the National assembly, shades going to talk about,” Mary Mugenyi, an weaknesses and we found that all the 43 had on Saturday withdrawn from the race, of opinion, gender and other special interest EALA aspirant, also former state minister for candidates were good. So, we endorsed all leaving 40 NRM aspirants for six positions. groups in that partner state, in accordance agriculture, said. of them,” Tanga Odoi, the chairman NRM “After the President’s speech, three with such procedure as the national assembly Sources that attended the CEC meeting electoral commission, said in a telephone candidates stepped down in favour of their of each partner state may determine. intimated to New Vision that earlier, CEC interview. colleagues and we encourage others to do the had come out with a list of six potential Uganda has nine slots in EALA, with the same before the voting day, because we have Seasoned politicians for EALA candidates, but was overwhelmed and rules of procedure allocating them to the only six slots as a party,”Odoi stated. “CEC noted that other countries have mature decided to leave the matter to the NRM parties represented in Parliament. However, in the recent amendments, representatives. We want people who will parliamentary caucus for the candidates to According to the rules, NRM has six slots Parliament also provided for other interest not involve themselves in personal attacks battle it out through the ballot.       

By David Lumu ready to articulate the views of the Mukasa Mbidde, an incumbent, the EALA candidates. UPC, Chris Opoka and Benson and Paul Kiwuuwa young people of East Africa, who had expressed interest in the seat, No wonder, the Uganda National Obua Ogwal are in the race, while form almost 70% of the region’s while in FDC, several contenders, Teachers Union general secretary, some notable independents, Suzan The East African Legislative population,” said Sophie Namirembe including Ingrid Turinawe have who is also a member of the NRM Nakawuki and former Butambala Assembly (EALA) race has become Bbaale, the 32-year-old NRM expressed interest in the regional CEC, James Tweheyo, has picked woman MP Mariam Nalubega are crowded, with 109 candidates aspirant for the EALA slot. Parliament. the nominations for EALA. Other among the over 40 independents, picking nomination forms from Of the nine slots, NRM has 5, Interestingly, 25 of the 109 NRM members include Paul who have picked forms. Parliament to contest for the nine Forum for FDC one, UPC one, DP contenders are former MPs, while 10 Musamali, who works in the office Explaining the high number slots. one and independents one slot. are largely political activists, whose of the government chief whip at of contenders, Chris Obore, the Yet despite the limited slots, The EALA representatives will be fingerprints on the political scene are Parliament, former Ntungamo director of communication and contenders are ready to do whatever selected by Parliament on February evident. Municipality MP Yona Musinguzi, public affairs at Parliament, said the it takes to grab the opportunity to 28. To be able to emerge from this former minister and MP Capt. root cause is the speculation that representing Uganda in the regional Out of the 109 contenders, 43, complex competition, one analyst Edward Francis Babu and former there is lots of money in politics. He Parliament. In fact, the youth including former ministers Henry said the aspirants have to position State House communications said this concept is misleading. aspirants have equivocally stated Banyenzaki, Mary Mugyenyi and themselves on the four cornerstones officer Sarah Kagingo. Seasoned The other theory, Obore adds, that it is time for the old guard to Rose Akol are competing for the six that make EALA representation in lawmaker and former parliamentary is the fear of some political actors leave the East African Parliament for NRM slots, 45 are competing for 1 Uganda — region, gender, minority commissioner Emmanuel Dombo, being completely marginalised from the young Turks. slot on the independent ticket, while and the thorny youth cards. former MPs for Ntenjeru South the circle of politics. “All of us should be included. for opposition slots UPC, DP and However, for the NRM party, the Patrick Nsanja and Milton Muwuma However, the silver-lining, I am at a stage in life where I FDC are still receiving aspirants. central executive committee (CEC) of Kigulu South are also in the race. according to Obore, is the fact that think the East African Parliament Over the weekend, DP president and the NRM parliamentary caucus In FDC, Turinawe and Florence many youth have developed the needs youthful voices, who are said only Fred play a vital role in the selection of Ibi Ekwau have picked forms. In desire to participate in politics.