Leading opposition party in Uganda, the National Unity Platform – NUP has announced that it will shun the incoming East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).

The announcement was made by the Leader of Opposition Hon. Mathias Mpuuga during today’s parliament session.

According to Mathias Mpuuga, NUP’s decision was as a result of NRM’s activity turning the EALA elections into a ‘ritual’ where they are given 6 out of 9 slots with the remaining 3 shared between opposition parties and independents.

“For some reason without a formula, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) believes that it is entitled to six members at EALA, and that entitlement is eternal. As if the six are ordained and that others should look at them in admiration,” Mpuuga said.

Mpuuga’s comments came after the speaker inquired why other parties have submitted candidates for the EALA voting process but only NUP hasn’t submitted.

The process to choose EALA representatives will begin on September, 19 2022 with nominations.

The tenure of current members of the regional parliament ends on December 17th 2022 with members to be elected taking over immediately.

Hon. Mpuuga said that Uganda is the only country in East Africa where the ruling party its own members and also chooses members for opposition parties.

“Across EAC, Uganda is the only country where the ruling party believes they can have their own members and also choose for other parties; NUP is not going to be part of this ritual, it is going to be part of an election where the rules of the games are respected, where multi-party dispensation is upheld,” Mpuuga. Added.

While commenting on the same issue, FDC spokesperson Ssemujju Nganda brought an example of how FDC candidate Annita Annet Among was denied a chance to participate in the 2012 EALA elections because of NRM’s bad elections.

In 2017, NRM used its numerical advantage to vote against FDC candidates Kamateneti Ingrid Turinawe and Florence Ibi Ekwau thus enabling the biggest opposition party then to miss out for the second time in the regional parliament.