Workers MPs sued for being non workers
By Our Correspondent
Three concerned citizens have petitioned the Uganda Electoral Commission (EC) challenging the legibility of five workers Members of Parliament (MPs) to the 2021 elections.
The five workers MPs are former Sports State Minister Hon. Charles Bakkabulindi, Hon. Arinaitwe Rwakajara, Hon. Sam Lyomoki, Hon. Margaret Rwabushaija Namubiru and Hon. Agnes Kunihira.
According to the petition dated 13th October, 2020 and received by EC’s Security Registry on 19th October, 2020; Hon. Charles Bakkabulindi,who has been in Parliament for 30 years, stopped working at Uganda Breweries 20 years ago. This means he is not legible for representing workers, who work in the beverages sector (distillers, bottling and allied workers).
Workers MP Hon. Sam Lyomoki, who has also been in parliament for 30 years, left the medical union long ago. Therefore he has no mandate to represent medical workers. The union he claims to subscribe to is affiliated with NOTU. but he continues holding the position of Secretary General at the Central Organization of Free Trade Unions ( COFTU).
“Take notice that the petitioners are aggrieved by the decision of this commission in including the respondents as eligible voters/candidates in the workers/special interests Register for workers representatives in Uganda’s parliament, 2021-2026, and petition EC seeking for remedies,” said the petitioners.
According to the petitioners, all the workers MPs names to be expunged from workers’ voters register for 2021 elections.
The Workers MPS are embroiled in consultative meetings with their lawyers with view to resolve the matter which threatens to bar them from contesting in the 2021 Workers Parliamentary elections.
In 2015 Parliament resolved that in accordance with section 8(3) of the parliamentary Elections Act, 2005 and Article 78(2) of the constitution, the representation in parliament under Article 78 (1) (b) and (c) is reviewed for the purpose of retaining the representation of the special interest groups.
Parliament through section 11 of the parliamentary Elections Act, 2001 (Act No.8 of 2001) made provisions for district women representation and for representation of Uganda People’s Defense Force (10), Youth (5), workers (5) and People with disabilities (5) representatives.
Therefore Parliament is supposed to review whether representatives of Special Interest Groups are still relevant in the Ugandan House.