National
FDC sets date for election probe
Posted Monday, February 4 2013 at 14:27
The opposition Forum for Democratic Change yesterday announced February 13 as the date the committee investigating complaints related to last year’s party presidential elections will begin inquiries.
The leader of opposition in Parliament, Mr Nandala Mafabi and the Tororo County MP Geoffrey Ekanya filed petitions with the FDC chairman over the conduct of the November 22 elections.
Subsequently, a five-member committee led by Mr Ladislaus Rwakafuzi, a city lawyer, was last week inaugurated to conduct inquiries within 30 days before submitting a report to the National Executive Committee.
Mr Peter Sempala, the secretary to the committee, told a press conference at the party headquarters in Najjanakumbi that the first session will involve the formal presentation of petitions to the committee.
“Commissions of inquiry largely operate like courts but this idea is not to put witnesses in the stand to testify but it is just a fact-finding mission to establish the truth,” Mr Sempala said.
According to Mr Sempala, the committee will convene at the party headquarters in Najjanakumbi.
Mr Sempala added that starting of the inquiries had been delayed by engagements the committee chairman, Mr Rwakafuzi, has in Arusha with the East African Legislative Assembly.
Secretary general Alice Alaso, the head of the party’s Electoral Commission, Mr Dan Mugarura, the party president, Gen. Mugisha Muntu and Ms Anita Among, the deputy finance secretary, are named in the petition filed by Mr Mafabi’s supporters.
However, details of the petition filed by Mr Ekanya have not been made public.
The committee will hear inquiries based on three terms of reference.
The committee will determine whether or not the omissions and commissions as contained in the memorandum took place during the polls and the electioneering process, the functions and relationship between party organs and the ad-hoc committees set up for election processes.
It will also determine whether or not the regulations regarding electioneering processes, party code of conduct and any other instruments prescribed in the party constitution were breached by persons named in the petition.
RSS