The National Unity Platform (NUP) has officially commenced the process of selecting a candidate to represent the party in the upcoming Kawempe North by-election.
In a formal statement, the party invited its members to submit expressions of interest for two key positions: Member of Parliament for Kawempe North and Councillor for Kazo-Angola Ward.
The Election Management Committee (EMC), chaired by Mercy Walukamba, has called on qualified and willing party members to seize the opportunity to represent NUP in the respective races.
“The Election Management Committee (EMC) wishes to call upon party members who are qualified and willing to express interest in carrying the party flag for the position of Member of Parliament for Kawempe North Division and Councillor LCIII for Kazo-Angola Ward,” the statement reads.
Party members interested in vying for these positions will have from Wednesday, January 29, 2025, to Tuesday, February 4, 2025, to submit their applications. Nominated candidates will be unveiled on Wednesday, February 5, 2025.
Applications are to be submitted in writing at the NUP Headquarters located in Makerere-Kavule. Applicants must include a Party Membership Card, National ID, Curriculum Vitae, and certified copies of academic qualifications with their submissions.
The selection process follows the recent announcement by the Electoral Commission (EC) of Thursday, March 13, 2025, as the polling date for the Kawempe North by-election. This election was necessitated by the unfortunate death of the area’s Member of Parliament, Muhammad Ssegirinya, on January 9, 2025. Ssegirinya had been serving as a member of NUP prior to his passing.
The Electoral Commission has already started preparations for the election. Updates to the National Voters’ Register for Kawempe North began on January 27, 2025, and will continue until January 31, 2025. Registered voters will be able to verify their details at polling stations from February 10 to February 19, 2025. Candidate nominations are set for February 26 and February 27, 2025, while the campaign period will run from February 28 to March 11, 2025.
Additionally, the Electoral Commission will distribute Voting Location Slips (VLS) from February 28 to March 13, 2025, to facilitate voter identification on polling day.
The vacancy for the Kawempe North parliamentary seat was formally declared by the Clerk to Parliament, Adolf Mwesige, on January 15, 2025. According to the Parliamentary Elections Act, the Electoral Commission is required to organize a by-election within 60 days of such a declaration.
Since Ssegirinya’s passing, several aspirants have expressed interest in contesting for the seat.
Among them are one of his widows and his former personal assistant, both of whom have begun displaying campaign posters in various parts of the constituency.
