Politics 19 March 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Uganda Parliament Schedules EALA By-Elections After Two Members Join National Assembly
Uganda's Parliament has fixed March 30-31 for nominations and April 15 for elections to fill two vacant seats in the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA). The vacancies arose when Denis Namara and James Kakooza Mutagubya were elected to Uganda's Parliament, prompting the ruling NRM to organize primaries for replacements. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/parliament-sets-dates-for-eala-by-elections-5397126
Uganda’s Parliament has announced key dates for by-elections to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) following vacancies created by two members joining the national legislature.
Nominations for candidates will occur on March 30 and 31 at Parliament, with the election set for April 15. This follows the election of Denis Namara, now representing Buyaga West County, and James Kakooza Mutagubya, representing older persons, to Uganda’s 12th Parliament.
EALA Speaker Joseph Ntakirutimana notified Speaker Anita Among on March 17, citing the EAC Treaty and Elections Act, requiring a by-election within 90 days to fill the seats until December 2027.
Speaker Among directed NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong to hold primaries, as the outgoing members represented the party on Uganda’s nine-member EALA delegation. Clerk Adolf Mwesige Kasaija outlined that nominations must reflect gender balance and special interests where feasible.
EALA members are elected indirectly by national parliaments, with each partner state sending nine representatives excluding national MPs, ensuring diversity in politics, gender, and interests. Uganda’s current delegation is NRM-dominated with six members.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)