Kampala, Uganda – The Electoral Commission of Uganda has officially gazetted Elias Luyimbazi Nalukoola as the newly elected Member of Parliament for Kawempe North.
The announcement, published in the Uganda Gazette on March 24, 2025, comes after mounting public pressure and a tense standoff between the commission and opposition leaders.
The declaration follows a highly contested by-election that saw Nalukoola secure victory with 17,939 votes, outpacing his closest rival, NRM’s Faridah Nambi, who garnered 9,058 votes.
Other candidates trailed far behind, with Hanifa Karadi receiving 389 votes, Mukiibi Sadat 243, and the rest barely scratching triple digits.
A DELAY THAT RAISED EYEBROWS
Despite the election results being clear, a puzzling delay in the gazettement process triggered suspicion and led to a dramatic visit to the Electoral Commission headquarters by Nalukoola, NUP Secretary-General LewisRubongoya, and legal counsel George Musisi. The trio demanded an explanation for the unexplained holdup, fueling speculation of potential political interference.
No sooner had they left the premises than the Uganda Printing and Publishing Corporation (UPPC) swiftly released the gazette, raising further questions about the initial delay. Was it an administrative hiccup, or was something more sinister at play?
PUBLIC OUTCRY FORCES ACTION
In the days leading up to the gazettement, social media was ablaze with outrage, as supporters of Nalukoola and NUP expressed frustration over what they perceived as an attempt to sabotage the people’s choice.
Hashtags like #GazetteNalukoolaNow and #RespectTheVote trended on X (formerly Twitter), pressuring authorities to act.
With the official announcement now made, the spotlight shifts to Nalukoola as he prepares to assume office. His victory, cemented in legal ink, marks a significant political shift in Kawempe North, a constituency known for its fierce opposition activism.
But as celebrations begin, one lingering question remains—why the delay? And could this be a sign of more political battles to come?
