The Parliament of Uganda has suspended nominations for the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) by-elections following a legal dispute over whether vacancies actually exist.
In a notice issued on March 28, 2026, Clerk to Parliament Adolf Mwesige Kasaija announced that the nomination exercise, which had been scheduled for March 30 and 31, had been halted until further notice.
The decision follows a legal advisory from EALA’s counsel indicating that the seats in question are not yet vacant. According to the memo, the positions will only officially fall vacant once James Kakooza and Denis Namara are sworn in as Members of Uganda’s 12th Parliament in May.
The two lawmakers, both affiliated with the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), were elected to the national Parliament in January, triggering plans to replace them at the regional assembly. Their election had prompted Parliament to recall from recess and sparked intense interest within the NRM, with at least 38 aspirants reportedly contesting in internal party primaries for the EALA slots.
However, the legal interpretation of when a seat is deemed vacant under the EALA framework has now created a procedural impasse.
Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi and Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka have both weighed in on the matter, pointing to the need for clarity on treaty provisions governing EALA representation and succession.
Despite the uncertainty, some aspirants remain hopeful. Among them is Mwesigye Muhammad Kanyonyi, who expressed optimism that the process will resume once the legal questions are resolved.
The suspension adds a new layer of complexity to Uganda’s representation in EALA, as authorities balance domestic political processes with regional legal frameworks. Parliament has indicated that a new timetable for nominations will be communicated once the matter is settled.
