There is growing anxiety among 40 NRM aspirants for the East African Legislative Assembly (Eala) as the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) gears up for a meeting on Saturday.
This meeting is expected to pick a shortlist of aspirants that will then compete for the six available slots for the ruling party. CEC is the second-highest decision-making organ of NRM after the delegates’ conference.
It is composed of the NRM national chairperson, first national vice chairperson, second national vice chairperson (female), and six vice chairpersons representing the regions of Uganda (east, central, north, west, Kampala and Karamoja).
Others are the party secretary General, national treasurer, deputy secretary general, deputy national treasurer, chairperson of NRM Parliamentary Caucus, all chairpersons of the national special league committees, chairpersons of commissions, and special nominees.
In the last Eala elections, the NRM screening machine zeroed in on 12 candidates. The current term of Eala MPs expires in May and election of new MPs is expected in April.
The aspirants who include at least 28 former MPs are lobbying the 10th Parliament for support. A member of CEC who declined to be named told The Observer on January 11 that the committee may make the final pick of candidates for the NRM caucus to choose from on Saturday.
“It’s true we shall have a meeting of CEC members on Saturday,” he said.
“I am told the parliamentary committee on rules, privileges and discipline has finalised the amendments to the rules of procedure on how Eala representatives will be voted. You know so many members are expressing interest in those positions but those [slots] are very few.”
The CEC member further said they will come up with guidelines to help the NRM caucus in parliament as it selects the party’s flag-bearers for Eala elections.
“If we do not come out with some limitations, we shall confuse the voters,” the CEC member added.
At least 28 former NRM MPs are in the running for Eala. At least 40 candidates have expressed interest and visited parliament to lobby MPs.
Former MPs of the ninth Parliament who are eyeing Eala, having lost their seats in February 2016 include; Patrick Nsanja (Ntenjeru South), Rose Akol (Bukedea Woman), Sarah Mwebaza Wenene (Kibuku Woman), Medard Bitekyerezo (Mbarara Municipality), Huda Oleru (Yumbe Woman), Mariam Nalubega (Butambala Woman), Milton Muwuma (Kigulu South), Sarah Kayegi Netalisire (Manafwa Woman), Mathias Kasamba (Kakuuto), Ibi Florence Ekwau (Kaberamaido Woman), Emmanuel Dombo (Bunyole East), Yonah Musinguzi (Ntungamo Municipality), and Benson Ogwal (Moroto).
One of the aspirants, Lillian Aber, told The Observer yesterday that she is holding her breath as CEC meets to decide their fate.
“In fact, I have stopped campaigning, having heard that CEC will sit over the weekend. I suspect they are going to meet and screen candidates,” Aber said on Tuesday.
Ambrose Murangira, an aspirant, told The Observer that he is optimistic CEC will select him.
“We have some challenges as a party but I am not thinking of stepping down. We have to fight on. NRM is inclusive and I am sure CEC will have me included among those for open campaigns. CEC must promote democracy,” Murangira said on Wednesday at parliament.
Each of the five EAC member states sends nine representatives to the legislative assembly. Of the nine current Eala members, six are from NRM, one from the Democratic Party (DP), one from UPC, and another member is independent.
namuloki16@gmail.com