Members of Parliament on the Parliamentary Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs have opposed the proposal tabled before them by the National Resistance Movement party seeking to protect any president who crosses from one political party to another. MPs on the committee chaired by Kajara MP Stephen Tashobya while receiving the NRM party proposals, noted that the party wants parliament to amend Article 83 of the Constitution to provide for a Member of Parliament to vacate the parliamentary seat, where the MP ceases to be a member of parliament to the political party which brought him or her in parliament but allows any president to cross freely without losing the seat.

MPs who comprised of Abdul Katuntu, Jovah Kamateka and Baka Mugabi said that the proposal for the president to cross the floor freely is unacceptable on the basis that the president supported by a given party or a coalition abandons his or her party and does not face any penalties.

They said that the provision should include the president to lose the seat as MPs if they all cross the floor, for fairness.

Appearing before the committee the NRM Party Deputy Secretary General Richard Twodong and the Party Deputy Treasurer Keneth Omona also asked parliament to amend Article 72 of the Constitution to require a person intending to stand as an independent candidate to be with 1000 signatures of registered voters in constituencies or districts. MPs said this should have applied to political parties since they are funded and independents collect less signatures so as they all have a level ground.

NRM officials also objected to a proposal by former FDC leader Kizza Besigye and Civil Society Organizations calling for extension of the life of parliament and suspension of elections. Richard Todwong said the constitution requires that every after 5 years, elections should be held so that people can vote their new leaders and therefore postponing elections and also extending the term of parliament will be a violation of the constitution. He said that as a party, NRM is very prepared to participate in the upcoming elections and also advised all parties and those who love democracy to ensure that they participate.

Todwong laughed at MPs who are not ready on the ground for elections and insisted that the elections will not be postponed. He said that as a party, it supports a proposal to kick out any members who switches his positions in parliament but however, added that this obligation should also be extended to those in local government like LC5 and Councillors.