Parliament yet to notify EC on Ssegirinya’s vacant seat

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The Electoral Commission (EC) has revealed that it is still waiting for Parliament to officially notify them about the status of the Kawempe North Constituency in Kampala district.

The seat automatically became vacant with the demise of the incumbent Member of Parliament, Muhammad Ssegirinya.

Ssegirinya, a staunch National Unity Platform (NUP) supporter, also known as Mr Update, passed away on January 9, 2025, at Lubaga Hospital after some time of illness.

He was buried on Sunday, January 12, 2025, at Butale-Kaddugala in Nyendo-Mukungwe Constituency in Masaka city amidst controversy, rivalry, and confusion among supporters and top leadership.

Most family members were left in a dilemma after the top party leadership declined to let Ssegirinya’s body be taken to the official venue secured by Parliament for final prayers. Instead, they held two parallel functions as a team locked and guarded the body inside a small house until the time of burial.

The EC spokesperson, Julius Mucunguzi, said that the timeframe lies within the law's demand to conduct a by-election as per Section 3 of the Parliamentary Elections Act 2005.

“The Electoral Commission awaits notification from the Clerk to Parliament informing us that there is a vacant position of a Member of Parliament. The law requires that this notification takes place within 10 days upon the death of the incumbent. On receipt of that notification, the EC is required to organise a by-election within 60 days,” Mucunguzi stated.

He further explained that, from the time of Ssegirinya’s death, January next year when the general elections are expected to take place is more than six months.

In an advert published in the New Vision of Monday, January 13, 2025, the Clerk to Parliament, Adolf Mwesige Kasaija, on behalf of the Speaker of Parliament, placed a death announcement of Ssegirinya.

“The Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament, Anita Annet Among (MP), with profound grief and sorrow, announced the death of Hon. Muhammad Ssegirinya, Member of Parliament for Kawempe Division North, Kampala District, which occurred Thursday, 09 January 2025 at Lubaga Hospital.”

The Speaker conveyed condolences to the family, his constituents, Members of Parliament, and the country at large. She added that on Friday, January 10, 2025, the late MP’s body was conveyed to Parliament for viewing and thereafter a special sitting was held to pay tribute to the late legislator.

She said that Ssegirinya would be remembered for his dedicated service to the people of Kawempe Division North.

In the meantime, the leader of NUP, Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine, during a long-detailed speech, informed mourners at Butale-Kaddugala that the top party leadership would soon converge to discuss and decide on who would contest to replace Ssegirinya.

Several individuals have already declared interest in vying for the seat, including former Democratic Party (DP) spokesperson Luyimbaazi Nalukoola who recently crossed over to NUP. Others who are yet to confirm their candidature include Ssegirinya’s former personal assistant, Alex Wasswa, Umar Magala, a former NUP registrar for Kawempe, among others.