A legal memo from the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) has halted Uganda’s attempt to replace two of its representatives, directly contradicting an on going internal selection process by the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
The memo, issued under the East African Community (EAC) legal office and dated March 23, explicitly states that no vacancies currently exist despite the election of Denis Namara and James Kakooza to Uganda’s 12th Parliament.
The position puts Uganda’s political process at odds with regional procedure.
Earlier this week, the NRM Electoral Commission, chaired by Tanga Odoi, nominated 38 candidates to contest for the party flag for the two seats, with plans to submit names to EALA by April 15.
The seats were expected to fall vacant after Namara and Kakooza won parliamentary positions in January, prompting a rapid mobilisation within the NRM to maintain its representation in the regional assembly.
The EALA legal position now raises the likelihood of delays, leaving aspirants in limbo and exposing a procedural gap between Uganda’s domestic political calendar and EAC treaty requirements.
EALA is the legislative arm of the East African Community and plays a central role in shaping laws on regional trade, integration and cooperation — areas where Uganda has been seeking to strengthen its influence.