The Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs has started scrutinizing the Parliamentary Elections Amendment Bill. Appearing before the Committee yesterday, the Attorney General informed the MPs that the appeal in the Supreme Court that was filed by the government against the constitutional court ruling has been withdrawn.
Hon. Abdu Katuntu (shadow Attorney General), a member of the Committee cautioned the Attorney General that such amendments to the laws must never conflict with the existing policies and should never impede on the superiority of the constitution.
On her part, Hon. Florence Namayanja questioned if extensive consultations were made before such amendments were tabled before parliament. She also expressed her dissatisfaction with the nomination fee which was increased from 200,000 shillings to 3million shillings. She argued that this fee is exorbitant and will hamper majority of the special interest groups from contesting in the elections given their unique nature.
She further expressed dissatisfaction with the manner in which workers’ representatives are elected to parliament. She said that only unionized workers are eligible to elect their leaders who in turn represent the whole population of both unionized and non- unionized workers which is too unfair to the section that does not belong to any union.
The Attorney General was given up to today, 18th November 2015 to present a report on the Bill before the Committee.
Meanwhile, in his response, the Electoral Commission Chairman, Engineer Badru Kiggundu said that the Commission implements decisions made by Parliament adding that the nomination fee was approved by Parliament.
He further defended the nomination fee saying that it was increased based on the changing economy, therefore the need to introduce a fee that suits the economic status of the country.
The Youth MPs are expected to appear before the Committee today.
Last week, the Speaker of Parliament announced that the Parliamentary Elections Amendment Bill among others will be handled before Parliament goes for recess on 26th November to allow the NRM MPs participate in their nominations.
The Bill was introduced following a Constitutional Court ruling challenging the process under which Special Interest groups including Youth, People with Disabilities, Workers and Army are elected into Parliament.