NRM team to determine fate of rebel legislators

The NRM Caucus yesterday unanimously supported a resolution to have all the five “rebel” MPs appear before the party’s disciplinary committee for questioning over their conduct.

Those targeted are Mr Barnabas Tinkasiimire (Buyaga West), Mr Wilfred Nuwagaba (Ndorwa East), Mr Theodore Ssekikubo(Lwemiyaga County), Mr Mohammed Nsereko (Kampala Central), and Mr Vincent Kyamadidi (Rwampara County).

The politicians are accused of criticising President Museveni and opposing NRM party decisions.
Contributing to a paper at the caucus on Parliamentary Rules and Discipline on Sunday, President Museveni reportedly spoke against the MPs, whom he accused of plotting to bring down his government.

“The caucus unanimously resolved that the MPs should appear before the disciplinary committee. The committee will then decide what action to be taken,” said Ms Evelyn Anite, the NRM Caucus spokesperson. Ms Anite promised to give more details of the meeting later.

Museveni’s resolve
President Museveni recently said his government would sort out what he called the “bad boys in Parliament”. This followed a Cabinet resolution supporting the party’s proposal to expel the outspoken MPs.

The disciplinary committee, which is chaired by Al-Hajj Moses Kigongo, the NRM vice-chairperson, is expected to summon the MPs soon. In a November 30, 2012, letter from Government Chief Whip Justine Kasule Lumumba to the NRM Secretary-General, Mr Amama Mbabazi, the MPs were accused of breaching the NRM code of conduct, and their names forwarded to the party’s disciplinary committee.

But whereas under the NRM constitution, the MPs can be expelled, they cannot be removed from Parliament, since the law only applies where one quits and joins another party. The MPs have since vowed not to “bow down to pressure from anyone”, saying they are fighting for the ordinary Ugandans’ interests.

mnalugo@ug.nationmedia.com