The clerk of Parliament has responded to FDC president Maj General Mugisha Muntu’s letter withdrawing the candidature of Ingrid Kamateneti Turinawe from East Africa Legislative Assembly (EALA) contest.
Muntu told the clerke that after consultations the party decided to withdraw Ingrid and retain her rival Florence Ibbi Ekwau.
However, Ingrid was quick to defy her boss’ directive saying Muntu has no powers.
Indeed the clerk replied Muntu saying he must follow procedure.
“I would like to bring to your attention rule 7(2) to the rules of procedure of parliament of Uganda which provide as follows; subject to sub rules (2) and (3) a duly nominated candidate of the election may withdraw his or her nomination at any time before the declaration of elected candidate,” the clerk said.
Adding that withdrawal of a nominee under sub rule (1) shall be effected by a written notification to the Clerke and shall be signed by the nominee personally or the secretary general of the party him or her where a candidate was nominated by a political party.
The above rules of procedure clearly leave Muntu with no option but to apologize for over stepping his mandate.
It however remains equivocal whether the former army chief wrote the letter with full knowledge of the law.