Margaret Zziwa impeached for misconduct, abuse of office
Wednesday December 17 2014
Ms Zziwa’s removal process was endorsed by two-thirds of the elected Members of the Assembly. PHOTO | FILE
The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) speaker Margaret Zziwa has finally been kicked out of office for misconduct and abuse of office. She has also made history as the first regional speaker to be impeached.
Ms Zziwa’s removal process was endorsed by two-thirds of the elected Members of the Assembly (36 out of the 39 sitting members in the house). The regional Assembly will now proceed to elect a new Speaker from Uganda in 36 hours, that is, on December 19 as required by the rules of the house.
“We have finally achieved what we wanted and we expect that we shall elect another speaker who will lead us through the next year when we resume for serious business,” said Kenya’s EALA representative Peter Mathuki.
Ms Zziwa has since her removal remained suspended as EALA Speaker following a motion barring her from exercising the functions of office pending the finalisation of investigations into the allegations against her.
READ: EAC Counsel seals regional assembly Speaker’s fate
Uganda’s Chris Opoka-Okumu is serving in an interim capacity to handle proceedings related to the process for the removal of the Speaker under provisions of Rule 9 of the EALA Rules of Procedure.
Under the provisions of the Rules, a motion seeking the removal of the Speaker from Office, is referred by the House, to the Committee on Legal, Rules and Privileges for investigation within a specific time frame.