The Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly Margaret Nantongo Zziwa has been impeached.
36 members of the assembly voted in favor of her impeachment while only two opposed and two others abstained from the vote in a session that has taken place in Arusha Tanzania.
Ms Zziwa’s troubles date back to November 17th when members of the assembly sitting in the Kenyan capital Nairobi suspended and replaced her with Chris Opoka to allow a 21-day investigation into allegations of misconduct leveled against her. Ms Zziwa was absent at the time of her impeachment.
Her archrival Dorah Byamukama was the first to cast the impeachment vote followed by Fred Mukasa Mbidde, the man who has consistently defended her.
The EALA session that impeached her was chaired by interim Speaker, Chris Opoka-Okumu.
The development comes just a day after East African Court of Justice (EACJ) on Tuesday quashed Ms Zziwa’s application in which she had sought to block today’s proceedings.
Ms Zziwa through her lawyers, had among other things sought an order prohibiting and restraining EALA from convening today for purposes of considering Legal, Rules and Privileges committee, pending the hearing and determination of the main case she filed in the regional Court.
The Court found that Ms Zziwa had failed to prove the irreparable injustice today’s sitting may occasion to her, as had been claimed in her application.
“The Court declared it was unable to accept the Applicant’s case that she is entitled to any ex-parte orders.
The Court thus ordered the Application be fixed for hearing inter parte on 3rd February 2015.
The Application was dismissed with no order as to cost,” read a statement by Ms. Geraldine Umugwaneza Deputy Registrar.
Ms Zziwa has been fighting to block the November 17 suspension by majority of the Assembly members over her alleged misconduct. She termed the suspension as illegal.
Meanwhile, President Yoweri Museveni has tasked the Attorney General’s office to scrutinize the woes of the impeached East African Legislative Assembly Speaker, Margaret Zziwa.
Addressing the media at Parliament, government chief whip, Kasule Lumumba said during the meeting held today, it was agreed that the Attorney General will study the legalities surrounding her suspension and impeachment before a decision is made.
KFM also spoke to legislators and ministers, all of whom condemned Zziwa’s impeachment as Speaker.
MPs Winnie Kiiza, and William Nzoghu as well as Ethics and Integrity minister, Fr. Simon Lokodo all described the development as totally infortunate.
