The National Resistance Movement party Caucus sitting at the National Leadership Institute Kyankwanzi this week heard a proposal to increase from 5 to 7 years the term of its Electoral Commission.
The proposal was made on Sunday by the Sembabule Woman Member of Parliament, Hanifa Kawooya who said the party’s Electoral Commission under stickler Dr. Tanga Odoi should be accorded ample time to prepare and conduct primary elections.
Her submission came immediately after Dr. Odoi addressed the Caucus. Odoi faced numerous difficulties and accusations during the NRM primary elections in October last year.
The former Makerere University academician was however happy during the address, that the national poll of 18th February vindicated him since most of the candidates who went through his commission election were successful.
According to Hon. Kawooya to avoid last year’s debacle during primaries, the party should come up with a better solution. In her view, the additional two years to the tenure of Odoi and his colleagues would be a great move.
“Members let me take this opportunity to thank our (NRM) Electoral Commission Chairman, Commissioner and all the team for the job well done last year. Some of us would not be here if it was not for the competence of the Commission,” Hon. Kawoya said
“I want to propose here that we look into a way of helping the Commission to do its work better next time. Let us increase the tenure of the commission from 5 to 7 years so that they get enough time for their work.”
The matter was however not formally put into discussion to get resolution in favor or against.
The NRM incumbents who made it back and new comers of the 10th Parliament convened in Kyankwanzi ahead of the May swearing in.