Kampala- The National Resistance Movement Secretary General Justine Kasule Lumumba has issued a statement distancing the party from Mr Amama Mbabazi’s planned public meetings.
Mbabazi had written to police and Electoral Commission indicating that he intends to meet his supporters countrywide ahead of the national electoral calendar. Mr Mbabazi intends to contest against President Museveni in their party NRM for the post of party chairman who automatically becomes the flag bearer of the party in the national elections.
“Amama Mbabazi is not an aspirant sponsored by the NRM Political Organisation within the meaning of the NRM Constitution and the Law. Amama Mbabazi’s notice to the National Electoral Commission that he intends to contest for President as an NRM flag bearer is not only speculative but also illegal.” Ms Lumumba wrote in her letter to the Inspector General of Police.
Adding “Amama Mbabazi’s aspirations as an aspiring candidate for President for the 2016 General Elections have not been endorsed by NRM and are, therefore, illegal. Amama Mbabazi has no Locus Stand to hold public meetings as a prospective presidential flag bearer of the NRM Political Organisation and/or presidential aspirant under the PEA.”
Lumumba said Mbabazi had not been endorsed by NRM and is therefore not an aspirant sponsored by the party within the meaning of its Constitution and Law.
According to Article 48(1) of the NRM Constitution “all members of NRM who meet National Legal requirements shall be eligible to become candidates for NRM at various levels.”
Article 48(2)a further states that “the presidential candidate for NRM shall be selected by the National Conference from a candidate or candidates recommended to the National Conference by the National Executive Council pursuant to Article12(3)(6) of this Constitution.”
Section 9 of the PEA provides that under the Multi Party Political System, nomination of candidates may be made by: A registered Political Organisation or Political Party sponsoring a candidate or by a candidate standing for elections as an independent candidate without being sponsored by a Political Organisation or political party.
The NRM Constitution mandates the NRM Electoral Commission to organize and conduct elections within the organs of NRM.
“The NRM Electoral Commission can only nominate aspirants who have been recommended to the National Conference by the National Executive Council. Amama Mbabazi has not been recommended by either the Central Executive Committee or the National Executive Council as a presidential aspirant.”
According to Section 10(7) of the Presidential Elections Act states that “where under the Multi-Party Political System a person is sponsored by a political organization or Political Party, the nomination paper shall indicate that he/she is so sponsored stating the name and address of the political organization or political party.”
According to the June 20, 2015 letter, Lumumba says under no circumstances, therefore can a candidate or aspirant who purports to seek to be flag bearer of a political organization or political party introduce himself as such to the National Electoral Commission.
“Amama Mbabazi’s self introduction to the National Electoral Commission purporting to be an aspirant for office of President on NRM ticket is irregular and illegal as his aspirations have not been endorsed by the NRM in accordance with the Presidential Elections Act and NRM Constitution.”
Eagle Online failed to get a comment from Mr Benjamin Alipanga the Spokesperson of Mbabazi taskforce as his phone was switched by press time.
