The Democratic Party (DP) in opposition has called upon Parliament to consider coming up with a better legal frame for the distribution of slots for the representation to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).
The call was made by the party spokesperson, Okoler Opio Lo Amanu while addressing the media in Kampala on the party’s internal processes of coming up with EALA representative.
Okoler said that Democratic Party has already embarked on the internal process leading to the identification of the flag bearer in the EALA elections scheduled for April next year.
Okoler said that the party has chosen to begin this process a little earlier to allow time for their flag bearer to begin searching for votes among the 529 members of parliament.
“The process was kick-started last week on 9th with interested party members picking nomination forms which they are returning and subsequently being nominated in two nomination days,” Okoler said.
The party mouthpiece noted that the party would have appointed the Party’s flag bearer to EALA like other political parties but because DP is the epitome of democracy in the country, they had to demonstrate what they stand for through a process that is being handled with the utmost level of transparency, fairness and impartiality.
“Democratic Party believes that the circumstances under which Uganda picks her representatives is marred with unfairness, connivance and ill intentions,” Okoler highlighted.
Okoler noted that there is need for a fair distribution of the EALA slots among political parties in the country.
“In the distribution of EALA seats, the NRM takes six slots, one independent and two slots for political parties on the opposition, these are also determined by the NRM members of Parliament,” Okoler said.
He suggested that Parliament should enact a legal framework that streamlines the internal party processes of identifying their flag bearers.
Meanwhile, the party has closed nominations for the party flag bearer for the EALA seat.
The nominated candidates include Hon. Faith Namusana Akiteng former DP parliamentary contestant for Ngora district, Hon. Babirye Kabanda former DP parliamentary candidate for Masaka City who also doubles as the Treasurer General of the party and Hon. Gerald Siranda Blacks Lucas a former DP parliamentary candidate for Pallisa County also serving as the Secretary General of DP.