By The National Unity Platform (NUP) is closely monitoring the Electoral Commission’s (EC) gazetting process of last week’s by-election results, which will determine its next steps—either preparing for a legal battle or the swearing-in of its candidate-elect, Elias Nalukoola.
Nalukoola secured a decisive victory, garnering 17,764 votes, more than twice the tally of his closest rival, Nambi, who managed 8,593 votes. Despite the clear win, Nalukoola has yet to take the oath of office, causing mounting frustration within the party and in Parliament.
Speaking on a political talk show, NUP Deputy President for Buganda Region, Muwanga Kivumbi, reassured supporters that the party remains patient as it waits for the EC’s official gazette. He confirmed that the results were expected to be published by Friday.
However, the delay has drawn scrutiny in Parliament, where Speaker Anita Among faced tough questions from MPs regarding why Nalukoola had not yet been sworn in. She explained that Parliament was awaiting official communication from the Electoral Commission (EC) before proceeding.
The situation has sparked comparisons to previous by-elections, such as that of Igara East, where the ruling party’s candidate, Michael Mawanda, was swiftly sworn in after his victory. The contrast has fueled concerns over potential delays and political maneuvering.
Defending the timeline, EC spokesperson Julius Mucunguzi pointed to the Parliamentary Elections Act, which allows the returning officer up to seven days after an election to submit results to the commission, followed by an additional 48-hour window for gazetting.
With the election held on March 13, the returning officer, Henry Makabayi, has until the end of Friday to submit his report, meaning the EC has until Monday to finalize the gazette.
As the deadline looms, NUP remains on high alert, ready to either celebrate Nalukoola’s swearing-in or challenge any obstacles in court.
