EC sets date for Omoro county by-election

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Electoral Commission has set May 26 as the date for the Omoro County by-elections. The seat fell vacant last month following the death of MP and former Speaker Jacob Oulanyah.

According to a letter dated April 6, 2022, written by the Secretary to the Electoral Commission Leonard Mulekwah, all Secretary Generals of registered political parties have been asked to prepare for the electoral process.

On the same date, EC will also conduct the by-election for the Omoro district Woman councilor for Lalogi/Lakwaya following the resignation of Caroline Nyakorach.

“Following the death of the Directly Elected Member of Parliament for Omoro County Constituency, Omoro District, Rt. Hon. Jacob L’Okori Oulanyah and the resignation of the District Woman Councilor Lalogi/Lakwaya and the subsequent notification of the existence of the above vacancies by the Clerk to Parliament and the Chief Administrative Officer, Omoro District respectively as required by law, Electoral Commission has approved a program to fill the above vacancies,” reads part of the letter.

According to the letter, the political parties are supposed to submit a list of 5 members with their two passport size photographs for accreditation to each sub-county in Omoro District and 5 names for accreditation for the tall centre as observers in the electoral process.

The Clerk to Parliament Adolf Mwesige notified the Electoral Commission (EC) about the vacancy in Omoro County on March 26.

Section 3 (1) of the Parliamentary Election Act, 2005 provides that whenever a Member of Parliament dies or where the seat of a Member of Parliament becomes vacant, the Clerk to Parliament shall notify the Commission in writing within 10 days after the vacancy has occurred, and a by-election shall be held within 60 days after the vacancy has occurred.

Paul Bukenya, the EC Spokesperson says that the official programme for the Omoro County Parliamentary by-election would be issued after the burial of Oulanyah.

Oulanyah succumbed to cancer which he has been battling since 2019. He will be buried on Friday in Lalogi village.

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