Parliament Speaker, Anita Among, has appointed a 20-member verification committee to oversee the upcoming East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) by-election.
The House sitting on Thursday, 26 March 2026 approved the committee chaired by Soroti East Division MP, Hon. Herbert Ariko (NRM). This is in accordance with Rule 8 of Appendix C of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament providing for the establishment, approval and membership of the verification committee.
The committee will scrutinise documents and vet candidates for EALA, and ensure conformity with the requirements of the Treaty for the establishment of the East African Community (EAC).
According to Speaker Among, she is in receipt of a notification from her EALA counterpart on the existence of two vacancies among Uganda’s representatives at the regional Parliament following the election of Hon. James Kakooza and Hon. Denis Namara to the 12th Parliament of Uganda.
Article 51 (3) (c) of the Treaty for the establishment of the EAC dictates that an elected member of the Assembly shall vacate his or her seat in the Assembly upon his or her election or nomination as a member of the National Assembly of a Partner State.
“This, therefore, paves way for a by-election that will be held on 15th April 2026,” Among said, adding that the nomination dates of candidates for the by-election will be held on 30th-31st March 2026.
Hon. Patrick Nsamba (NUP, Kassanda County North) wondered why the by-elections to fill the two positions would take place before the swearing-in of the members of the 12th Parliament.
Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi, also insisted that Hon. Kakooza and Hon. Namara, two of Uganda’s nine representatives to EALA are not members of the 12th Parliament until they are sworn in in May.
“Our two colleagues from EALA who are now elected to the 12th Parliament are not yet MPs until they do swear in…What if court throws one of them out before they swear in, they would not have become MPs. We need to be careful with the law,” Ssenyonyi said.
Attorney General, Hon. Kiryowa Kiwanuka, agreed that there could be a misinterpretation of the law, saying an election is not an event but rather a process which is only complete when all stages have been concluded.
“Allow me to study the matter, confer with colleagues in Arusha [headquarters and seat of EALA] and understand the issue from their perspective…Right now, you have a letter from EALA, and Parliament is well within its rights to proceed with that, but we shall confer with them because we believe there is a misinterpretation of the law in that regard,” he said.
The Speaker insisted that only a contrary letter from EALA or a court order can stop the by-election of the two MPs to the regional parliament.
FULL LIST OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
1) Hon. Ariko Herbert Edmund (Chairperson)
2) Hon. Ssemwanga Gyaviira
3) Hon. Ojara Martin Mapenduzi
4) Hon. Akello Lucy
5) Hon. Basalirwa Asuman
6) Hon. Katuntu Abdu
7) Hon. Linda Irene
8) Hon. Adeke Anna Ebaju
9) Hon. Najjuma Sarah
10) Hon. Abeja Suzan Jolly
11) Hon. Acon Julius Bua
12) Hon. Paparu Lillian Obiale
13) Hon. Dr. Ayume Charles
14) Hon. Emelly Kugonza
15) Hon. Nakato Asinansi
16) Hon. Nambeshe John Baptist
17) Hon. Naigaga Mariam
18) Hon. Angura Frederick
19) Hon. Kankunda Amos
20) Hon. Kaberuka James Ruugi
