The Parliament of Uganda has announced the official timeline for a by-election to fill two vacant seats in the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), following the January 15, 2026, general elections.
The vacancies arose after sitting Ugandan EALA members Dennis Namara (Buyaga West MP in Kagadi District) and James Kakooza Mutagubya (representing the elderly for the Central Region) were elected to Uganda’s national Parliament.
Under the East African Community (EAC) Treaty, no individual may hold seats simultaneously in a national parliament and the regional assembly, necessitating the by-election.
In a formal notice issued by Clerk to Parliament Adolf Mwesige Kasaija, the roadmap includes:
- Nomination forms available starting Wednesday, March 25, 2026.
- Nomination exercise scheduled for Monday, March 30, to Tuesday, March 31, 2026 (9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) at the Parliamentary Conference Hall in Parliamentary Buildings.
- Voting set for Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
Successful candidates will serve the remainder of the 5th EALA term, which ends in December 2027.
The process follows a March 17, 2026, letter from EALA Speaker Joseph Ntakirutimana to Uganda’s Speaker Anita Annet Among, formally notifying the vacancies.
Parliament is required to conduct the by-election within 90 days of notification.
The by-election occurs amid reforms in EAC funding under President Yoweri Museveni’s chairmanship (starting March 2026), where member states will directly pay salaries and allowances for their EALA representatives from national treasuries—instead of the central EAC budget, which has faced arrears exceeding USD 89 million.
This shift aims to ease the Secretariat’s financial burden, ensure timely payments, and increase accountability to national taxpayers.
Incoming Ugandan EALA members will be the first funded directly by the Ugandan Treasury.
The by-election is open to eligible Ugandans, with nominations handled by Parliament.
Each MP may nominate no more than two candidates.
Approved nominees will campaign within Parliament before the vote.