NRM EALA Aspirants case dismissed with costs

By Elizabeth Ankunda

2^nd Aug 2022

High Court has dismissed with costs an application by 23 National Resistance Movement-NRM party members challenging the decision by the party to lock them out of the East African Legislative Assembly-EALA elections. 

Civil Division High Court Judge Musa Ssekaana dismissed the application in his ruling delivered via email noting that it was filed prematurely since the applicants did not exhaust the internal mechanisms provided within the party constitution to resolve election disputes.

The applicants are Dr. Isaac Lwanga Byangire, Jossy Nuwabiine, Julius Maganda, Herbert Nuwagaba, Samuel Mugenyi, Sheilah Kyasiimire, German Amanya, Robert Kyaguna, Adonia Abigaba, Ronald Mivule, and Ambrose Nampwera

The others are Richard Kizito, Moses Ategeka, Robert Webale, Samuel Kawooya Kigongo, Isa Kato, Ruth Karungi, Gilbert Agaba Gilbert, L.B Rwebisengye, Michael Asimwe, Dr. Emmanuel Kisembo, Ivan Mutsika and Lauben Bwengye.

They petitioned the high court on July 14th, 2022 challenging the decision of the NRM Central Executive Committee, the party top organ to ring fence six out of the nine EALA positions reserved for Uganda for the incumbent legislators.

The incumbents include Mary Mugyenyi, Rose Akol, Stephen George Odongo, Denis Namara, James Kakooza, and Paul Musamali Mwasa.

Elected representatives to EALA from the 7 member states of Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, Burundi, and new entrant the Democratic Republic of Congo – DRC serve a five-year-tenure. The current 4th Assembly has 62 members, whose term commenced in 2017 and expires in the month of August.