President Museveni convened a crucial meeting with the National Resistance Movement (NRM)’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) at State House, Entebbe, to address internal party issues and the selection of parliamentary committee leaders, reflecting a new approach amid recent corruption concerns.
President Yoweri Museveni, as the chairman of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), presided over a significant meeting with the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) at State House, Entebbe, on Tuesday. The gathering aimed to address party-related matters and the critical task of selecting chairpersons and deputy chairpersons for various sectoral committees of Parliament.
A major point of the meeting was the selection of leaders for parliamentary committees, an issue that has gained prominence due to recent legislative developments and internal party dynamics.
Speaker Anita Among, who attended the session, played a pivotal role in these discussions.The urgency to select new committee leaders was underscored by the recent postponement of their designation in Parliament. Originally scheduled for last Friday, these appointments were delayed to allow for security vetting of MPs vying for these roles, a move decided by the NRM CEC.
"Security vetting is crucial to ensure that those who lead our committees uphold the integrity and values of the NRM," an unnamed source close to the party leadership stated.
This step reflects the party's heightened vigilance following the recent arrests of lawmakers on corruption charges.
Despite holding a follow-up meeting last week to finalize names for committee leadership, the NRM CEC failed to reach a consensus, necessitating another round of discussions on Tuesday.
As of now, it remains uncertain whether the new appointments have been finalized.
"Fifty legislators have submitted applications to lead various committees," noted the State House statement.
These committees cover a broad spectrum of areas including Agriculture, Defence, Education, Health, and Finance, among others.
This extensive interest from MPs highlights the competitive nature and significance of these leadership roles within Parliament.
The recent corruption scandals involving lawmakers have prompted the NRM’s top leadership to adopt a more hands-on approach in parliamentary affairs. Previously, decisions regarding committee leadership were largely delegated to Parliament.
However, the gravity of the corruption charges has necessitated direct intervention from the party’s central leadership.
"Recent events have shown that we must be vigilant and proactive in our leadership selections," a senior NRM official commented. "We cannot afford to let our guard down when it comes to maintaining the integrity of our parliamentary processes."
As the NRM CEC continues its deliberations, the political community and the public await the final decisions on committee leadership with bated breath. The outcome of these discussions will not only shape the functioning of Parliament but also signal the party's commitment to addressing internal challenges and restoring public trust.
