FDC vets EALA candidates as party waits for House rules
FDC’s nominee for East Africa Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP Florence Ekwau Ibi with some of her supporters when she showed up at the party headquarters in Najjanankumbi to pick up her nomination forms. PHOTO BY ABUBAKER LUBOWA
What you need to know:
Last week, lawmakers set rules for EALA and resolved to scrap party consensus in the election of the country’s representatives to the regional parliament.
The House chaired by Ms Kadaga, also cleared special interest groups to contest for the nine slots allotted to Uganda. The amendment, legislators, said is consistent with the dictates of the Equal Opportunity Commission.
KAMPALA: Opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has moved to complete its internal processes to nominate candidates to represent Uganda at East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) even as the party awaits guidance from Parliament on the same.
Four candidates out of the 21 aspirants that have so far expressed interest within the party have been nominated. FDC’s nominations end on Wednesday). Addressing media at the party’s headquarters in Najjanakumbi, Mr Dan Mugarura, the Chief Electoral Commissioner said the leadership of parliament and opposition have been meeting to agree on how to divide EALA slots. Mr Mugarura explained that the party was awaiting these guidelines.
“We used to get two slots as FDC and[ruling] NRM was taking six and the other parties one and now they said they are going to adjust including UPC, DP and independent and we are still waiting to know how many slots FDC will be allocated,”Mr Mugarura said.
Last week, lawmakers set rules for EALA and resolved to scrap party consensus in the election of the country’s representatives to the regional parliament
The House chaired by Ms Kadaga, also cleared special interest groups to contest for the nine slots allotted to Uganda. The amendment, legislators, said is consistent with the dictates of the Equal Opportunity Commission.
Nominations
Members nominated include; Mr Wilberforce Kyambadde, Ms Florence Ekwau Ibi, Mr Innocent Ayo and Hebert Mayemba. Mr Mugarura said 16 people had returned nomination forms out of the 21 who expressed interest in contesting.
“To participate you have to be a member of the party with valid party card, 18 years old and above, registered with [National] Electoral Commission(EC) with national identity card and no problems with court of law,’Mr Mugarura said. Recently Democratic Party National Executive Committee retained Mr Mukasa Mbidde as their flag bear in the Eala assembly.
FDC did not take part in the previous elections because they lodged a complaint in courts of law regarding the slot system division and by the time they got the verdict Parliament had already voted Uganda’s representatives.
