Ugandan AG back in court over regional assembly

KAMPALA, Thursday

Uganda’s Attorney General yesterday returned to Arusha seeking court guidance and interpretation on how the Ugandan Parliament should elect members to represent the country in EALA.

Parliament has for the previous months failed to agree on the composition, on how many each party should elect and send to EALA, and has since hit a snag on the final amendments to the rules of procedure which are in line with the EAC Treaty.

During their last debate, Speaker Rebecca Kadaga asked the AG to seek court guidance because she had informed him many months ago over the same.

Ms Kadaga said court should guide on issues of term limits as envisaged in Article 51 of the Treaty and the election in article 50 of the treaty.

Resolves hitch

Unless the Parliament resolves the hitch on composition, Ugandan representatives could be voted late because all partner states have until April 15 to send names of the new MPs for gazette, ahead of the June start of another 5 years term for EALA.

The current proposed amendments by the Parliamentary rules committee are to the effect that the ruling NRM should send six members, official opposition the FDC two members and one seat for Independents.

The proposal however leaves out participation by the smaller opposition parties which are also represented in the Parliament like UPC, DP, Jeema and CP.