NRM Aspirant Petitions Speaker Over Blocked EALA Nomination

Aspiring Member of Parliament for the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), Abdallah Mugerwa Hamtono, has formally lodged a complaint with the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among. His petition centers on the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party’s recent directive, which he argues unfairly restricts competition for the party’s slots in the EALA elections.

Hamtono asserts that the NRM’s decision to, in his view, ring-fence the seats for certain individuals effectively sidelines other qualified aspirants within the party. This, he believes, contravenes the spirit and letter of Article 50 of the East African Community (EAC) Treaty, which emphasizes the principle of fair representation and democratic processes in the election of members to the regional assembly.

The aspirant expressed his disappointment, stating that the process should allow for open competition where all eligible members can present their credentials. He is seeking intervention from the Speaker to ensure a more inclusive and democratic nomination process, allowing for a level playing field for all aspirants within the NRM.

This development highlights potential internal party disputes and broader questions about adherence to regional treaty obligations as Uganda prepares to nominate its representatives to EALA. The Speaker’s office is expected to review the petition and decide on the next course of action regarding the NRM’s nomination process for the by-election.