Battle lines have been drawn between Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD) and Uganda Musicians Associations (UMA) Electoral Commission ahead of UMA Elections.
The Minister of Gender, and Social Development, Betty Amongi, through a letter addressed to UMA EC Chairperson, Geoffrey Ekongot said that she had received petitions from four regions namely, Soroti-Teso Cluster, Mubende Cluster, Ankole-Kigezi cluster and Northern Region cluster comprising of Acholi, Lango, Karamoja, and West Nile).
Amongi says that the petitioners are raising a number of issues which include unfairness in having only one national polling centre in Kampala at National Theatre, complaints about the distance between their area of residence and the polling centre in Kampala, complaints about lack of finances and lack of inclusivity of all members in the voting process.
In a letter to the UMA EC, Amongi noted, “Arising out of the above contestations, I have obtained from Uganda Registration Services Bureau the dully registered Ugandan Musicians’ Association Constitution (2019) to guide my decision and advisory to you.”
She continued, “First, the registered Ugandan Musician Association Constitution, 2019 of UMA does not provide for a policy Board to oversee the activities of UMA election as articulated during the meeting which took place on 22/06/2022 at the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development.”
She further quoted Article IX Section 1(f) of the UMA constitution which states that the Chairperson of the Executive Board shall appoint an election committee of three members, none of whom are candidates, to conduct elections.
“Article IX, Section 3 (d), provides for list of voting members to be kept by the Treasure and availed to the Chairperson Electoral Commission at least thirty minutes prior to voting time.”
Amongi divulged that, “In view of the aforementioned Constitutional breach, and numerous contestations from the petitions received, which can lead to the disenfranchisement of the UMA members nationwide, it is prudent that the scheduled elections on Tuesday 28th, June be postponed to allow consensus building.”
In response to Amongi’s letter, UMA EC chairperson Geoffrey Ekongot assured MGLSD in a letter that whereas it is good practice to register documents, there is nothing in their constitution that makes it mandatory to register such documents.
“Moreover, no provision suggests or implies that failure to register with URSB would invalidate a document. The issue of the UMA amended constitution which provides for the UMA Policy Board and its functions is a matter of fact and technicalities tailored in bad faith to impeach the same are clearly misguided,” he said.
He further noted that in reference to the nature and procedure of voting, MGLSD should be guided by the amended constitution as provided.
When theGrapevine talked to Ekongot about the written document, he told theGrapevine that first and foremost, UMA is a private organization and for the minister to directly make decisions for them is harsh, inconsiderate and a high-handed usurpation of private mandate.
He added, “Secondly, the expenses that have already been extended to conduct the polls cannot be recovered and the Association is already financially overstretched and has no apparent or prospective expectation of funds to extend the exercise.
“May it also be noted that neither you nor your office was helpful in mobilizing for the election resources. In regard to funding, it was always convenient for your office to remind us that UMA is a private organization, and that government did not have a budget for it.
“Thirdly, your decision to put a halt to our efforts without considering the views and efforts of the members and candidates that are eager and totally invested in exercising their right to vote or be voted is biased, meddlesome, demoralizing and without reference to any legal provision through which you acted which renders it literally reckless.
“Fourthly, following a letter written by Mr. Francis Peter Ojede, the Executive Director Uganda National Cultural Centre (UNCC), in response to petitions from our cluster leader, UMA Policy Board requested a meeting with your office (Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development) and National Culture Forum. The purpose of the meeting was to pave way for resolving the impasse.”
Ekongot therefore concluded by assuring MGLSD that he has been advised by the Policy Board to continue with the plans to hold the elections on the 28th June 2022 in the interest of the general membership and in exercise of the Policy Board Mandate.
“In the event, that you insist on illegally taking up the mandate of the Policy Board and issuing the matching orders, the Policy Board will inform the general membership that their powers have somehow transferred to you putting you in charge of organizing the elections in the manner that you want and run the association in the way that choose and determine,” Ekongot told the Minister.
By Kalamira Hope
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