The opposition Forum for Democratic Change, FDC party has expressed concern over Uganda’s continued participation in the East African Community, EAC and the East African Legislative Assembly, EALA claiming ordinary Ugandans are not benefiting from the regional parliament.
Addressing the weekly party press conference at the party headquarters in Najjanankumbi, Harold Kaija, the FDC party deputy secretary General said the ruling NRM is only in EALA for its selfish benefits, not for the country as a whole.
Over the weekend, Kabula County Member of Parliament James Kakooza advocated for the removal of term limits for members of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) so the same representatives could serve for more years.
However, Kaija calls this dismantling of the constitution. “The character of dismantling the constitution has become a characteristic of the NRM regime. NRM EALA members, whose term of office is expiring, which is supposed to be expiring, are now demanding to change the rules” says Kaija.
He adds that these members should be calling for the exit of Uganda from the regional parliament. He says these MPs should refer to what recently happened in Britain and ask if Ugandans are benefitting from the East African community.
Kaija says “Because EALA positions are taken as jobs, these guys were not considered in the cabinet that Mr. Museveni wrote the other day they feel if the constitution is not changed, possibly they are going to be rendered jobless.”
Kaija says the constitution should not be amended and members should instead prepare Ugandans for an exit from the EAC and EALA.
