The Parliament of Uganda has confirmed that by-elections to fill two vacant seats in the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) will be held on 12 April 2026, following the election of James Kakooza and Denis Namara as members of the 12th Parliament.
The Speaker of Parliament made the announcement during a plenary session, signaling the start of the electoral process for the regional assembly positions.
NRM Receives Overwhelming Interest
The National Resistance Movement (NRM) Electoral Commission has received strong interest from party members eager to contest the two seats.
“We received 39 applications following our call for expressions of interest, of which 38 candidates have been successfully nominated,” said Dr. Tanga Odoi, NRM Electoral Commission Chairman. “The nomination process was conducted transparently and in strict adherence to party procedures.”
Dr. Odoi noted that the nominees include members of the 11th Parliament who resigned their parliamentary positions to meet the legal requirements for contesting EALA seats.
Next Steps in the Election Process
Following the close of nominations, the Commission will submit the list of candidates to the party Secretary General. The list will then be forwarded to the Central Executive Committee (CEC) for vetting and voting.
“The final stage will involve presentation to the NRM Parliamentary Caucus for election, which is set for Friday this week at State House, Entebbe,” Dr. Odoi said.
He emphasized that despite the high number of applicants, only two positions are available and encouraged candidates who do not succeed this time to remain committed for future opportunities, particularly in 2027.
Clarifying Tenure Concerns
Addressing public questions about the tenure of current EALA representatives, Dr. Odoi clarified that ongoing internal party processes will not affect serving members.
“Current representatives will continue in office until the end of their term, in accordance with the law,” he said, reassuring constituents and party members of continuity in representation.
The by-election is expected to attract significant attention from both party members and regional stakeholders as Uganda prepares to fill its representation in the East African Legislative Assembly.
