DP petitions parliament to stay vetting of new Uganda EC

The opposition Democratic Party (DP) on Thursday petitioned the Speaker and Leader of Opposition, asking parliament to stay the vetting of newly nominated members of the Electoral Commission.

The party’s president Norbert Mao, accompanied by the party secretary general Mathias Nsubuga, handed a petition to Speaker Rebecca Kadaga in which they accused President Yoweri Museveni of not keeping his promise to ensure a role for the Inter Party Organization for Dialogue (IPOD) in building political consensus after the 2016 elections.

Mao noted that in a meeting the IPOD council had with Museveni in July this year, he made an undertaking that there would be a dialogue on the election of new EC commissioners. Mao said to their surprise, the president appointed new commissioners without any consideration of citizen’s concerns in regard to electoral reforms.

DP petitions Speaker @RebeccaKadaga to stay the vetting of new Electoral Commission @rkigongo1 @bukeddeonline pic.twitter.com/cDgif68OvP

— JOYCE DIANA (@jdiana956) November 24, 2016

Mao said Museveni’s action is going to frustrate other political actors in the country, since they believe they are not listened to, saying it is “unfair for the referees of the game to be appointed by one of the players”.

DP petitions speaker to stay the vetting of newly appointed electoral commisioner. @OurParliament16 @PMLiveRadio pic.twitter.com/WBTJSGITey

— Iguma (@GabrielIguma) November 24, 2016

Mao added that they had even agreed that if needed, the Eng Badru Kiggundu commission’s term be extended, as it gives all political parties time to engage in a process of appointing independent commissioners.

The DP leader further threatened to organise protests  in case their plea is not considered by the vetting committee of parliament.

On her part, on receiving this petition, the LOP Winnie Kiiza assured them of support saying  DP had spoken represents many more voices of Ugandans.

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editor@independent.co.ug