Section 3 (1) of the Parliamentary Election Act, 2005 provides that whenever a Member of Parliament dies, or where the seat of a Member of Parliament becomes vacant, the Clerk to Parliament shall notify the Commission in writing within 10 days after the vacancy has occurred; and a by-election shall be held within 60 days after the vacancy has occurred.
The body of the late Kawempe North MP, Muhammad Ssegirinya, lays in State at the Parliament lobby.
The Clerk to Parliament,
Adolf Mwesige has written to the Electoral Commission (EC) notifying them about a vacancy for Kawempe North Constituency Member of
Parliament.
This follows the death of
the area Member of Parliament, Muhammad Ssegirinya, on 9th January 2025. Ssegirinya was laid to rest on Sunday.
“Accordingly, the Clerk
to Parliament has requested the Commission to organize and conduct a
by-election to fill the vacancy so that the people of Kawempe North can be represented
in Parliament,” Julius Mucunguzi, the Head of Public Relations and Spokesperson
of the Electoral Commission confirmed.
Mucunguzi revealed that
the Clerk to Parliament made the notification on Wednesday 15th
January 2025.
“In writing and notifying
the Electoral Commission, the Clerk to Parliament acted by
Clause 2 of Article 81 of the Constitution. The Commission is going to plan and
prepare to conduct a by-election and ensure that the law, as it requires is
effected,” noted Mucunguzi.
Section 3 (1) of the
Parliamentary Election Act, 2005 provides that whenever a Member of Parliament
dies, or when the seat of a Member of Parliament becomes vacant, the Clerk to
Parliament shall notify the Commission in writing within 10 days after the vacancy
has occurred; and a by-election shall be held within 60 days after the vacancy
has occurred.
Ssegirinya died on
Thursday, 9th January at Lubaga Hospital after battling a long
illness. On Friday, Parliament held a Special Sitting in which a resolution was
passed in his honour. Ssegirinya was laid to rest on Sunday in Butale village,
Masaka district.
Before and after his death,
several Ugandans continue to express interest in Ssegirinya’s seat, including
his widow and former Personal Assistant.
The Electoral Commission
is yet to release a program for the Kawempe North by-election.