Race open to fill Uganda's two vacant EALA seats
The vacancies arose following the elevation of former EALA representatives Dennis Namara and James Kakooza to Parliament, where they were elected to serve as MPs for Buyaga West and the Elderly (Buganda), respectively.
EALA, the legislative arm of the East African Community, plays a key role in shaping regional integration, trade, and governance policies across Partner States. (File photo)
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The Speaker of Uganda's Parliament, Anita Annet Among, has officially opened the race to fill two vacant seats in the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).
The vacancies arose following the elevation of former EALA representatives Dennis Namara and James Kakooza to Parliament, where they were elected to serve as MPs for Buyaga West and the Elderly (Buganda), respectively.
Their departure left Uganda with two unfilled positions in its nine-member delegation to the regional parliament.
In a formal communication dated March 19, 2026, Among informed the secretary general of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) that the seats fell vacant effective January 15, 2026 and directed that internal party processes be expedited ahead of nominations.
According to parliamentary guidelines, Uganda is required to conduct a by-election within 90 days to ensure continued representation in the East African Community legislature, whose current term runs until December 2027.
Clerk to Parliament Adolf Mwesige Kasaija confirmed that nominations will be held on March 30 and 31, 2026, at the Parliamentary Conference Hall between 9am and 5pm. Nomination forms will be available from March 25, with each aspirant required to pay a sh3m fee.
Mwesige said each candidate must be backed by at least five MPs, while no MP may endorse more than two aspirants. Verification will precede voting that is scheduled for April 15, 2026, within Parliament.
Among stressed that parties must conduct primaries to identify nominees, noting that the process should reflect gender balance and special interest representation.
Inside Parliament, political activity has intensified as aspirants lobby ahead of NRM primaries at the party's Kyadondo Road headquarters, with several hopefuls already expressing interest in the hotly contested race.
EALA, the legislative arm of the East African Community, plays a key role in shaping regional integration, trade, and governance policies across Partner States.