Kira Municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda has called on Speaker of Parliament Anita Among to clarify the delay in swearing-in Elias Nalukoola, the newly elected Member of Parliament for Kawempe North.
Nalukoola emerged victorious in the fiercely contested by-election held on March 14, 2025. However, despite his win, he has yet to take the oath of office.
Ssemujju highlighted the inconsistency in the swearing-in process, pointing out that National Resistance Movement (NRM) MPs, such as Michael Mawanda (Igara East), were sworn in just a day after their election victories.
“Michael Mawanda was declared the winner of a by-election and sworn in within 24 hours. Can you tell us when Nalukoola will be sworn in?” Ssemujju pressed.
In response, Speaker Among attributed the delay to the absence of the official government gazette, which is required to formalize the swearing-in process.
“When a member wins, I wait for the gazette. Once I receive it, I swear them in. So, I am waiting for the gazette. I need to hear from the Electoral Commission,” Among explained.
The delay has raised concerns across Uganda, especially given the violence that marred the Kawempe by-election. Security forces were accused of brutalizing voters, opposition leaders, and journalists. Meanwhile, the ruling NRM, which lost the race, has vowed to challenge the results in court, citing alleged irregularities.
Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi also voiced his frustration, criticizing the Electoral Commission for not acting swiftly.
“We are dismayed that the Electoral Commission has yet to gazette the winner of the Kawempe North by-election,” he said. “We followed up with them, and they told us they are still sorting out internal issues. We don’t know what that means, as in the past, this process has been completed in record time.”
The delay has further fueled debate, particularly as other recent by-election winners, such as Kisoro Woman MP Grace Akifeeza Ngabiraano, were sworn in promptly.
Nalukoola, a National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate, secured victory with 17,764 votes, defeating NRM’s Faridah Nambi, who garnered 8,593 votes. His delayed swearing-in has intensified scrutiny of the Electoral Commission’s handling of the process.
Efforts to reach Electoral Commission spokesperson Julius Mucunguzi for comment were unsuccessful, as calls to his known mobile number went unanswered, and text messages remained unreturned at the time of publication
