Vote rigging claims overshadow EALA elections
All competing candidates were allowed to speak before parliament and asked members to vote for them such that they can finish the work they started.
The voting process to elect Uganda’s nine representatives to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) was tainted by claims of vote rigging.
Aringa South MP, Alion Odira, stormed the chambers of Parliament with a ballot box claiming that voting was taking despite candidates having not finished campaigning.
Parliament in Uganda today sat to elect its representatives to EALA, an organ of the East African Community, established under Article 9 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community.
The ongoing election has got 28 candidates, contesting in this particular race where Uganda only has nine slots.
Earlier in the day as today’s parliamentary sitting was going on, Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa gave the nominated candidates 7 minutes to address the members following the rules and law.
Jacqueline Amongin the former Ngora Woman MP, promised to ensure that policy gaps on climate change and legislation on the free movement of goods and services will be addressed.
Kateregga Mohammed the JEEMA Secretary General and flag bearer for EALA elections highlighted the need to strengthen the regional market, which will help to address the problem of unemployment in the long run.
Meanwhile, Julius Bukyana an independent highlighted the need for the East African Community Market which can be used by the member states in joint negotiations with other regional blocs.
He proposed the need for the establishment of the East African Bureau of Standards which would be used across the board by all Member states, to address issues of quality of goods from the different countries that are always blocked from entering some countries.
All other competing candidates were allowed to speak before parliament and asked members to vote for them such that they can finish the work they started.
28 Candidates are in the race. Among these include six candidates from the National Resistance Movement (NRM), who included Rose Okullo, Mary Mugyenyi, Dennis Namara, James Kakooza, Stephen George Odongo, and Paul Musamali.
Candidates from Opposition parties vying for the two slots, include Harold Kaija from Forum for Democracy (FDC), Gerald Siranda from Democratic Party (DP), Fred Ebil (Uganda People’s Congress), and Mohamad Kateregga of Justice Forum (JEEMA).
Some of the independent candidates include Ambrose Murangira, Allan Muyinda, Ronex Tendo Kisembo, Lauben Bwengye, Gilbert Agaba, Salaama Nakitende, Phiona, and Patience Namara.
Others include Veronica Kadogo, Jacqueline Amongin, Julius Bukyana, Dennis Kapyata, Daniel Muwonge, Stella Kiryowa, Joseph Tindyebwa, Fred Luyinda, Josephine Lolem, and Moses Ategeka.
