James Kakooza Beats Kiwanda to Carry NRM EALA Flag

Former Kabula MP James Kakooza has been voted by the parliamentary caucus of the ruling political party, NRM to fill the vacant EALA MP position left by Mathias Kasamba who died in April this year.

Kasamba’s tenure was supposed to run up to end of 2022, meaning that Uganda has to nominate his replacement.

The party’s topmost policy organ, CEC, this week trimmed the number of those who had expressed interest in the position from 26 to 6 before submitting names to caucus for voting.

The candidates included former state minister for tourism Godfrey Kiwanda Ssuubi, former Kabula MP James Kakooza, Lule Umar Mawiya, Mutumba Abbas, Nakato Kyabangi and Nsubuga Kenneth.

On Friday, Members of the NRM parliamentary caucus gathered at Kololo Independence grounds for voting.

Out of the total 237 votes cast, Kakooza garnered 93 to emerge winner, followed by Kiwanda with 85 and Mutumba with 54. Nsubuga got 3 votes, Nakato 1 votes, Lule didn’t get any vote and one was invalid.

“I therefore declare Kakooza James who has polled the highest number of votes (93) representing 39.2% as duly elected Member of Parliament to the East African Legislative Assembly,” declared Dr Tanga Odoi, the NRM Electoral Commission Chairman.

The East African Legislative Assembly (Assembly) is an organ of the East African Community; established under Article 9 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community.

The Assembly has a Membership comprising nine members elected by each Partner State; ex-officio members consisting of the Minister or Assistant Minister responsible for the East African Community Affairs from each Partner State; the Secretary General and the Counsel to the Community.

Currently, the Assembly has 54 elected Members and 8 ex-officio Members totaling to a Membership of 62.