A total of 13 legislators of the National Resistance Movement Party ( NRM – O) have petitioned the party Secretary General, Justine Kasule Lumumba protesting their suspension from the party caucus last week.
The MPs led by Lwemiyaga MP, Theodore Ssekikubo, Sam Lyomoki, John Baptist Nambeshe, David Kalwanga, Patrick Nsamba and James Kaberuka have today addressed the media at Parliament seeking action to be taken against the party National Chairman, Yoweri Museveni and party Chief Whip, Ruth Nankabirwa.
Last week, a total of 8 members were kicked out of the party caucus a move the party chairman agreed to. They were accused by Chief whip Ruth Nankabirwa and a majority of the NRM MPs of opposing the proposal to amend article 102 (b) aimed at lifting the presidential age limit.
Nankabirwa noted that it was not correct to hold a meeting that was aimed at developing strategies on how to popularize the bill with members who are against the proposal.
Majiya County MP, John Baptist Nambeshe said that the group has written to the disciplinary committee protesting the illegal and arbitrary suspension from the caucus adding that the Chief whip and the party chairman turned themselves into a jury, complainant and judge before they (NRM rebel MPs) were given a chance for a fair hearing.
Nambeshe noted that it was absurd that President Museveni allowed to be misguided by Nankabirwa to take such action against “genuine members” of the party.
“Our party has a nature of tolerance but it has fallen short of its principles by now stifling any divergent ideas,” Nambeshe said.
Kasanda North MP, Patrick Nsamba said that the NRM party constitution does not accord the party Chairman immunity from punishment and urged the disciplinary committee to take action against the two errant members (Museveni and Nankabirwa).
Nsamba said that in the multiparty dispensation and in the NRM party, the chairman isn’t supreme but rather the National Assembly which should be consulted before any issue is endorsed.
“We shall not allow a few individuals to use the caucus to achieve their own objectives, we advised President Museveni to call the party organs to endorse the amendment but he refused,” Nsamba said.
Ssekikubo said, “We are giving a notice to the Secretary General, to present the protest to the Central Executive Committee at its earliest sitting; we know the President is the chairperson of the committee but should they not convene to discuss these matters, we shall proceed with the disciplinary proceedings against the errant members.”