MP-elect Nalukoola to be sworn in today- Speaker Among
Kawempe North MP-elect, Elias Luyimbazi Nalukoola
What you need to know:
- Section 59 of the Parliamentary Elections Act, 2005, states that the EC shall, after the election, declare in writing and publish the result within 48 hours after the close of polling.
The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, has said yesterday that Kawempe North MP-elect, Elias Luyimbazi Nalukoola, will be sworn in today after the Electoral Commission gazetted him.
"I have received official communication from the Electoral Commission along with a copy of the gazetted results. I will proceed to swear in the Member of Parliament-elect for Kawempe North in my chambers tomorrow (March 26) at noon. I would like to congratulate Elias Nalukoola Luyimbazi on his victory," Ms Among posted on her X handle.
When contacted, Mr Nalukoola told this publication that; “If it is true, that is good news. I will make it tomorrow for the long-awaited day to swear in as a people’s choice for the people of Kawempe North."
The Electoral Commission (EC) yesterday gazetted the results of the Kawempe North by-election, confirming Mr Nalukoola as the winner.
The publication was released last evening.
“Notice is hereby given by the Electoral Commission that the result for the Parliamentary by-election for the directly elected Member to Parliament, Kawempe Division North, Kampala Capital City in the Schedule to this Notice is hereby published, in accordance with Section 78(1) of the Parliamentary Elections Act, Cap. 177,” it read in part.
The gazette, however, shows that NRM’s Faridah Nambi got 9,058 votes, contrary to the 8,593 votes early declared by the EC returning officer on March 14.
Mr Nalukoola's votes also increased by 175 ballots from the initial results announced by the returning officer on March 14.
NUP Secretary-General David Lewis Rubongoya said: "We shall soon seek an explanation from the Electoral Commission why the results in the original tally sheet are different from the ones in the gazette.”
“We can only hope that all these machinations are not intended to create a case for the losing NRM candidate where there is none! Thanks to all who raised voices and put pressure,” he added.
Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Joel Ssenyonyi welcomed the development.
“The pressure from all corners has paid off. We’re now awaiting the swearing-in of our colleague so he can serve Kawempe North and Uganda at large,” he said. This came as the electoral body (EC) faced pressure to gazette the NUP flagbearer, eight days after his victory in the highly contested by-election. NUP officials, led by Mr Rubongoya, yesterday visited the EC offices to demand an explanation for the delay.
Mr Rubongoya questioned what he described as the EC’s sluggish response, contrasting it with the swift gazetting of ruling party candidates in previous by-elections.
Mr Nalukoola asserted that the delay was a deliberate attempt to overturn his victory. Political commentator Augustine Ruzindana echoed these concerns.
“Any delay in gazetting the newly elected MP undermines the credibility of the EC and also makes the challenge of the results difficult if not impossible. EC please fulfill your mandate without unnecessary prevarication,” Mr Ruzindana said.
WHAT THE LAW SAYS
Section 59 of the Parliamentary Elections Act, 2005, states that the EC shall, after the election, declare in writing and publish the result within 48 hours after the close of polling.
