Opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has written to Parliament asking for more time, just a day before the deadline for the East Africa Legislative Assembly—EALA nominations.
FDC Secretary General Alice Alaso on Tuesday wrote to the Clerk to Parliament Jane Lubowa Kibirige,requesting parliament to postpone the deadline set for Wednesday May 23. The party is complaining that the rules as amended by the whole house on Friday last week, were only gazetted on Monday and this does not give ample time for other political parties.
Alaso complains of lack of official communication to various political parties on the nomination deadline. She says she only learnt from the media that EALA aspirants need to have submitted their nomination papers between May 23 and 24, 2012.
Alaso requests the Clerk to avail her with a copy of the new rules as amended. She further wants at least ten days to allow her call for party nomination primaries before the final list is provided to parliament for approval.
The FDC Secretary General also wants the Clerk to Parliament to indicate how many slots are available for political parties to nominate as well as provide nomination forms through which the party will submit the official candidates.
Alaso threatens to take legal action in the event that parliament does not respond to her letter.
The letter is copied to the Leader of Opposition, Conservative Party, JEEMA, Democratic Party, and Uganda People’s Congress.
The letter comes at a time both the opposition and NRM are in a stalemate after failing to build consensus on the distribution of EALA slots. Opposition MPs wanted parliament to follow Article 50 of the East African Treaty, which asks national parliaments to explore a possibility of having all parties in the house represented at the Arusha-based regional parliament.
While NRM conducted its primaries on Monday night and elected six candidates who are yet to be approved by parliament, other political parties are still confused on the number. It appears that while the opposition is preaching boycott, it is doing all it can to ensure representation to EALA is achieved.
NRM is not ready to back down on the number arguing the political force within the country ought to be reflected in EALA representation. Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi says he will continue calling the opposition for meetings to build consensus.
