Parliament elected Uganda’s representatives to the East African Legislative assembly EALA yesterday. A total of 9 aspirants out of the 28 who expressed interest and were vetted to contest for the EALA race were voted by Members of parliament as Uganda’s representatives to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).
The Nine (9) members that were elected and declared to represent Uganda at the EALA include;
- Akol Rose Okullu – 422
- Namara Denis – 415
- Kakooza James -405
- Odongo George Stephen -403
- Paul Mwasa -401
- Kadogo Babirye Veronica -383
- Mugenyi Mary -367
- Amongin Jacquiline -338
- Siranda Gerald -233
Other candidates who participated were Independents; Agaba Gilbert who gannered 210 votes, Ategeka Moses (4); Bukyana Julius (8); Bwengye Lauben Muhangi (5) Kapyata Dennis (9); Kiryowa Stella (27); Lolem Josephine (11); Kisembo Ronex Tendo (6); Luyinda Fred (5); Murangira Ambrose (181); Muwonge Mugwanya Daniel (4)
Other Independent candidates were: Muyinda Allan Stanely (4); Naamara Patience Tumwesigye (35); Nakitende Salaama Adelaide (6); Rwandarugali Phiona (23); Tindyebwa Joseph (22)
The results were read by the Speaker of Parliament Anita Among who is the returning officer for the EALA elections and 495 MPs out of the total number of 529 eligible voters participated in the election. Among however later added that when the counting ended, 478 MPs had participated in the election.
However, according to the figures of the tallied ballots, there were more votes than the registered Mps who were eligible to participate in the election. Given that the National Unity Platform one of the opposition political party in parliament boycotted the elections and its members were not present.
The 11th parliament has 529 Mps 109 in Opposition and the NRM accounting for over 330 seats. A total of 478 MPs voted for the Eala representatives, 6 did not vote, while 11 votes were invalid.
According to the Rules of Procedure (12) 1, the nine members of the East African Legislative Assembly representing Uganda shall be elected by Parliament.
Commotion in the house
During the electoral process there was commotion in the house from one of the MPs, Hon Aringa South Alioni Odria who interrupted the proceedings of parliament claiming that as MPs were busy listening to the contestants, ballot boxes were already being stuffed. Alioni carried with hum one of the ballot boxes screaming and also violently attacked a police officer saying that the ballot boxes had been pre-ticked before polling began.
However this was later resolved by the deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa who read a letter from the speaker Anita Among stating that she had authorized several MPs to vote early as they had commitments elsewhere.
The current 4th EALA ends on December 17, 2022. The East African Legislative Assembly(EALA) is an organ of the East African Community (EAC) and consists of members elected from outside the national parliaments of the partner states. EALA was established under Article 9 of the Treaty for the establishment of the East African Community.
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