MPs have attacked the Electoral Commission because it hasn't officially registered Elias Nalukoola Luyimbazi as the winner of Kawempe North. Even though the EC announced Nalukoola won last Friday's special election, he still can't take his oath. Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda from Kira Municipality pointed out during Thursday's meeting that Michael Mawanda from Igara East became an MP within 24 hours of winning his race.
Speaker Anita Among explained parliament needs official paperwork from the Electoral Commission before they can let anyone take the oath. She said she was waiting to hear from them. This made Joel Ssenyonyi, who leads the Opposition, very upset. He said they asked the EC what was happening and were told about internal problems that needed fixing first.
Ssenyonyi complained that other winners got registered right away after past elections. He thinks the EC has failed to do its job properly. He said once they declare someone won, their job ends there. He asked the government, which watches over the commission, to explain why everything was taking forever.
The opposition leader also brought up how security forces beat up Nalukoola, opposition MPs, and news reporters during the election. He asked who ordered this violence. Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja and Internal Affairs Minister David Muhoozi both said the violence was wrong. Yet government ministers joked that the opposition hurt themselves and the reporters.
Ssenyonyi discussed the disappearances. He mentioned Bright Muhumuza, who works for NUP in Western Uganda, who was taken away Wednesday night. He said the government pretends nothing bad happens but keeps hurting its citizens. Nobody ever faces punishment for these actions.
Ibrahim Ssemujju announced plans to introduce something for parliament to vote on that condemns attacks against journalists. He compared the Kawempe election to a war zone, saying armored vehicles showed up at voting places just like when the military fought rebels in Northern Uganda. He asked what made this small election need such a heavy military presence.
David Bahati, speaking for the government, said they visited an injured reporter in Nsambya Hospital and would pay his medical bills. About the security forces acting badly, he just said President Museveni already made a statement about it. Theodore Ssekikubo from Lwemiyaga County dismissed this answer, saying the president can't override what the Constitution says.
Speaker Among told the Attorney General to look into the matter. She promised they would swear in Nalukoola once they got the official papers. She said she wants her member in the House because the people of Kawempe North deserve someone speaking for them in parliament.
Speaker Anita Among explained parliament needs official paperwork from the Electoral Commission before they can let anyone take the oath. She said she was waiting to hear from them. This made Joel Ssenyonyi, who leads the Opposition, very upset. He said they asked the EC what was happening and were told about internal problems that needed fixing first.
Ssenyonyi complained that other winners got registered right away after past elections. He thinks the EC has failed to do its job properly. He said once they declare someone won, their job ends there. He asked the government, which watches over the commission, to explain why everything was taking forever.
The opposition leader also brought up how security forces beat up Nalukoola, opposition MPs, and news reporters during the election. He asked who ordered this violence. Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja and Internal Affairs Minister David Muhoozi both said the violence was wrong. Yet government ministers joked that the opposition hurt themselves and the reporters.
Ssenyonyi discussed the disappearances. He mentioned Bright Muhumuza, who works for NUP in Western Uganda, who was taken away Wednesday night. He said the government pretends nothing bad happens but keeps hurting its citizens. Nobody ever faces punishment for these actions.
Ibrahim Ssemujju announced plans to introduce something for parliament to vote on that condemns attacks against journalists. He compared the Kawempe election to a war zone, saying armored vehicles showed up at voting places just like when the military fought rebels in Northern Uganda. He asked what made this small election need such a heavy military presence.
David Bahati, speaking for the government, said they visited an injured reporter in Nsambya Hospital and would pay his medical bills. About the security forces acting badly, he just said President Museveni already made a statement about it. Theodore Ssekikubo from Lwemiyaga County dismissed this answer, saying the president can't override what the Constitution says.
Speaker Among told the Attorney General to look into the matter. She promised they would swear in Nalukoola once they got the official papers. She said she wants her member in the House because the people of Kawempe North deserve someone speaking for them in parliament.
