KAMPALA.
As the political storm start to gather ahead of next year’s General Elections , Justice Forum political party commonly known by the acronym JEEMA has suspended eight senior members over indiscipline .
Those suspended include; the party’s former secretary for foreign affairs Mr Abdulnoor Kyamundu Ssentongo, former youth league secretary Derick Namukajjo, and former youth league chairman Haruna Musanje, among others.
Speaking at JEEMA’s headquarters in Mengo, Kampala on Tuesday, the party chairperson ,Mr Kibirige Mayanja said the suspensions were approved by the National Executive Committee (NEC) under the guidance of JEEMA president and Bugiri Municipality legislator Mr Asuman Basalirwa.
“These leaders had become undisciplined and violated party principles. They were damaging the reputation of the current leadership, and enough was enough,” he said.
The suspended party members have been summoned to appear before JEEMA’s disciplinary committee, which will determine their fate, including possible expulsion.
The rift comes as JEEMA, which started as a pressure group in 1995 and political party in March 2004 , seeks to position itself head of next year’s polls. Mr Mayanja also reiterated that the party’s leadership term and its delegates conference had been extended by three years, until 2028.
“Our constitution review commission and NEC agreed to the extension to allow the drafting of a new party constitution, to raise resources for the conference, and to focus on participating in the 2026 elections,” he said.
However, one of the suspended party members Mr Kyamundu has come out to dismiss the party decision describing it as unconstitutional, accusing Mr Basalirwa’s leadership of clinging to power.
“They[top party leadership ] behave like President Museveni who they claim want to oust .JEEMA has failed to grow as a political party just because the founders think that they can dictate whatever we do ,that is wrong” he said
He threatened to seek legal redness insisting that JEEMA constitution talks about expulsion ,not suspension and this must come after one has been given a fair hearing.
JEEMA , which was mainly started by Muslim elite politicians has been suffering internal bickering since last year when some members led by Kyamundu started demanding reforms in the party and roadmap for electing new leadership –which did not go down well with current leaders .