Two Independent candidates have been dropped from the East African Legislative Assembly—EALA race.
The verification committee set up to vet independent candidates now remains with nine cndidates.
The committee chaired by Mariam Nalubega told parliament refused Robert Araali Tusiime and Jeremiah Birungi Kamurali for failing to provide proper documentation about their candidature.
The committee noted inconsistencies in the documents submitted by the candidates in regard to age and years of study. While before the committee for verification, Tusiime stated that he was born on July 31, 1985, a date that is also indicated in his passport and birth certificate and yet on the voter’s card, the year is erased.
On his education qualification, Tusiime told the committee that he studied A’ level for two years, other documents show that he was 18 years when he completed his O’level and 19 years at A’ level. Basing on these two inconsistencies, the committee rejected his nomination.
Nalubega noted that the committee was suspicious that the inconsistencies could be as a result of forgery of documents, adding that the police is carrying out investigations into the matter.
A bitter Tusiime told URN that he will petition the Speaker and Clerk to Parliament, insisting that his age and study life cannot be a hindrance to his candidature to EALA. He insists that he must be nominated as an independent candidate.
//Cue in: “The years and the name ….
Cue out:….I must be nominated.//”
On candidate Kamurali who also contested in the NRM EALA primaries but garnered one vote, Nalubega noted that the committee rejected his candidature after he submitted partial information to the office of the Clerk. He later submitted the missing information after the deadline for nominations.
His nomination forms were not endorsed by the Commissioner of Oaths, yet this was a requirement as par the Rules of Procedure. He also attached his NRM party Identification Card.
So far only 8 of the Independent candidates have gone through. They include Ben Wacha, Susan Nakawuki, Moses Nuwagaba, Martin Wandera, Jack Nsubuga, Andrew Nuwabiine, Nicolas Babigumira, and Mugisha Twinomugisha.
MP Geoffrey Ekanya, who earlier wanted to present a general report on the candidates’ vetting but was blocked by Speaker Rebecca Kadaga, told URN that the committee should have vetted all EALA candidates and not just the Independents. He says the vetting process was not fair because the independents faced a panel while other political parties just nominated candidates.
Ekanya also criticized the time given for political parties to nominate candidates noting that it was limited. While FDC requested for time to conduct EALA primaries, Parliament did not respond.
