By Johnson Kanyesige
The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) has selected lawyer Fred Bangumya Rwakaizi and Stella Kiryowa as its flagbearers for two vacant seats in the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).
In a statement on Sunday, the NRM said its Electoral Commission chairperson, Dr. Tanga Odoi, had “declared Mr Bangumya Fred Rwakaizi and Stella Kiryowa as party flagbearers for the two positions of Members of Parliament to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).”
Rwakaizi secured 127 votes while Kiryowa garnered 97 votes, emerging winners from a field of 36 aspirants.
This was during a parliamentary caucus that convened at the office of the president in Kampala.
The two seats fell vacant after Buyaga West MP Denis Namara and Central Region Older Persons MP James Kakooza resigned from EALA following their election to Uganda’s 12th Parliament
The NRM said Rwakaizi and Kiryowa “emerged winners among the 36 aspirants in today’s by-election to replace Hon. James Kakooza and Hon. Denis Namara.”
Rwakaizi and Kiryowa will now be presented to Parliament for election to fill Uganda’s vacant seats in the Arusha-based regional assembly.
Meanwhile, the NRM Parliamentary Caucus also designated three members for the Pan-African Parliament in South Africa: Hon. Anthony Akol, Hon. Arinaitwe Rwakajara and Hon. Sarah Najjuma
