The Electoral Commission (EC) Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama has assured the people of Kalangala District that a by-election will be held to fill the vacancy left by the death of their woman Member of Parliament, who was both the incumbent and the duly elected representative for the incoming 12th Parliament.
Justice Simon Byabakama expressed condolences to the bereaved family and the people of Kalangala, describing the loss as painful for the district and the nation. He however clarified the constitutional roadmap for replacing the deceased MP.
“Under the law, once a vacancy occurs through death, the Clerk to Parliament must notify the Electoral Commission within 10 days. The Commission is then required to organise a by-election within 60 days from the date of that notification,” Byabakama said.
The situation is unique because the deceased MP’s term ends on 12th May, alongside the rest of the current Parliament.
She was also the woman MP-elect for Kalangala in the next Parliament. Consequently, when the 12th Parliament is sworn in on 13th May, no one will take oath as the representative for the district’s woman seat.
“From 13th May, a clear vacancy will exist in the 12th Parliament. The Electoral Commission will therefore conduct a by-election to fill that position,” the EC boss explained.
He noted that the Commission cannot organise any poll before 12th May because the current term has not yet lapsed. “Between now and the 12th, we cannot do much. No by-election will take place in the remaining days,” he added.
Byabakama said the Commission is waiting for formal communication from the Clerk to Parliament before announcing the detailed timetable.
He drew parallels with a similar case in Kikuube District, where the elected district chairperson also passed on after winning the next term. The EC has already received notification from the Chief Administrative Officer and is working on a programme to fill that local government vacancy.
The EC chief promised that once the Clerk’s letter arrives, the country and especially the people of Kalangala will be promptly informed of the by-election roadmap.
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