Capt Edward Francis Babu, a former minister and husband of Margaret Nantongo Zziwa, the ousted speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly (Eala), has announced he is in the running for a seat in the regional parliament.
Babu joins at least 50 contenders from across the political divide, including former Members of Parliament who are jostling to snap up the nine available seats.
Previously, six out of nine slots were ring-fenced for the ruling NRM party and the remaining three were shared between the opposition’s Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Democratic Party (DP) and Uganda People’s Congress (UPC).
But Parliament last week made changes to the Eala election rules of procedure to provide for slots for special-interest groups as well. According to the amendment, all parties with representation in parliament can compete for the nine slots. The amendment also eliminates the provision for party consensus in the selection of Eala candidates and gives power to the speaker.
“The speaker shall ensure that the members elected under Rule 12 in as much as it is feasible, represent the various political parties represented in the House, shades of opinion, gender and other special-interest groups in Uganda,” the amendment reads.
Babu will, however, have to fight off some damaging baggage since the impeachment of his wife, Zziwa. Zziwa was elected in 2012 as the first female speaker of Eala and third head of the assembly.
However, in 2014, she was impeached after her fellow legislators accused her of, among other things, planning to do away with rotational sittings of the assembly; unofficially being absent from duty and not giving adequate supervision to assembly, and wasting the resources of the community.
An investigation by the Eala committee on Legal, Rules and Privileges into the complaints raised in a motion for the removal of Zziwa between November 27 and December 16, 2014, accused Capt Babu, her husband, of interference in the matters of the assembly and threatening members of staff.
Babu is, however, unfazed by this history and has embarked on an aggressive campaign to join Eala. In his 12-point manifesto, Babu says, “My conviction is to deepen and widen the negotiation for the EAC pillars of integration and harnessing what we have achieved. Review the customs union, common market and fast-track the monetary union and the process of making the constitution of the political federation.”
He further points to a need to review and enhance the functionality of the organs of the East African Community, including the secretariat, Eala and East African Court of Justice (EACJ).
“There is need to expand and remodel Eala to parliamentary status. The model might take on the form of a unicameral or bicameral depending on the aspiration of the people. This will call for a spirited dialogue and debate, which competence I possess,” Babu asserts.
The involvement of youth, women and persons with disabilities is also on his list of priorities. Interviewed for a comment, Eala member Chris Opoka, who replaced Zziwa in the immediate aftermath of her censure, said Babu is free to run for a seat.
“It is his constitutional right to express interest in the position, as long as he meets the criteria. Well, he has to wait for his party’s endorsement and later get voted by parliament,” Opoka said.
NRM’s Central Executive Committee (CEC), which is the second-highest decision-making organ of NRM after the delegates’ conference, is expected to vet its candidates next month.
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