NUP Meets with EC Boss over Delay in Nalukoola Victory Gazetting

The National Unity Platform (NUP) has urged the Electoral Commission (EC) to expedite the process of gazetting Elias Luyimbazi Nalukoola, the newly elected legislator of Kawempe North.

This call to action comes after Luyimbazi’s victory as the NUP candidate in the recent by-election, which was marred by controversy, violence, and allegations of pre-ticked ballot papers.

Speaking to the media earlier this morning at the Electoral Commission headquarters Kampala after the meeting with some of the commission bosses, Louis Rubongoya the NUP Secretary General emphasized the importance of promptly gazetting Luyimbazi to ensure a seamless transition and to prevent any potential disputes or delays.

“When there are by-elections it takes a few days to be gazetted four five six days someone is gazetted…and if you look at the record most of these are NRM candidates or NRM leaning candidates, now in this particular case after the regime did everything possible to prevent our candidate at the time from winning and he went on to win we’ve seen an inordinate delay, they have taken so long to gazette him.” Rubongoya told waiting reporters.

He says the EC boss Justice Simon Byabakama told them that the reason of the delay was because of the violence witnessed during the by-election and that they were waiting for a report from the returning officer.  

Last week the leader of opposition Joel Senyonyi raised a concern on the floor of parliament asking government to explain the delay in gazetting Nalukoola’s victory to pave way for his swearing in as MP in the house, he indicated in his complaint that NRM candidates who won by-elections have been sworn in expeditiously.

Nalukoola who was part of the NUP delegation says any challenge to his win cannot take place before he is gazetted but he was quick to add that he is not concerned about any court case that might be lodged by the NRM or any other candidate to challenge his victory.

“We are not worried about any petition but all we want is that the electoral commission must cause gazettement of the results and have me sworn in as the new Member of Parliament for Kawempe North constituency.” Nalukoola said.

The media and public relations manager at Electoral Commission Paul Bukenya says the commission is indeed working hard to facilitate the swearing-in of Elias Luyimbazi Nalukoola, although the exact timeline for the swearing-in ceremony hasn’t been specified. 

“We have briefed them on the steps being taken to conclude the process and we’ve told them that this is on course and is being handled by us and they have left with those assurances.” Bukenya said.

Elias Luyimbazi Nalukoola, the newly elected legislator for Kawempe North, secured a commanding 17,764 votes in a landslide win in the by-election.