Opposition split on participating in EALA election

By Francis Lubega

27^th Sept 2022

The opposition parties in Parliament have split on the issue of participation in the East African Legislative Assembly elections scheduled this week Thursday on 29th.

According to the communication from the meeting held at Parliament, Opposition party whips included; Alum Santa of Uganda People’s Congress-UPC, Asuma Basalirwa of Justice Forum- JEEMA, Okin Ojara from the Forum for Democratic Change-FDC, Peter Okot of Democratic Party-DP, and Okot Santa Abalo of People Progressive Party-PPP resolved to participate in the EALA elections.

According to the whips, they informed the meeting that as caucuses of Opposition parties they couldn’t reverse or influence their respectful party decisions on participating in EALA and even some had already fielded candidates.

However, the National Unity Platform –NUP through its whip in Parliament Manjeri Kyebakutika who is also the Jinja City Woman MP, said that they will challenge the process of EALA elections in court and also commit not to either attend or participate in the exercise.

The EALA election race has 28 candidates and out of which only nine are needed to represent Uganda at the assembly.

NRM party has six slots and the remaining three will be shared amongst the Opposition candidates and one for independent.