The Electoral Commission has scheduled the road map ahead of the Kawempe North By-Election, which is now happening later this year. That was bound to happen after the demise and the fall of the late Mohammed Ssegirinya aka Mr. Update.
The National Unity Platform (NUP) is following suit and have asked for the ones who wants to be the flagbearer and become the next MP to step up. They have the time to express interests in it until the 4th February and the party will unveil their candidate on the 5th February. Surely within the guidelines of the Electoral Commission and in time to register the candidate as a contestant in the By-Election itself. Therefore, the NUP continues like no tomorrow.
The EC has settle the dates for delivering of the candidacy at the Office of the returning officer in the time span of the 26th and 27th February. This shows that the NUP is planning to be in advance and ensure their candidate is ready for campaigning early. As well, as waiting for the campaign period of 28th February to the 11th March 2025. Meanwhile, the polls are on the 13th March and we are seeing the MP will be elected on this day and either announced later that night or the day after. Depending on how the EC is planning to pull this one of.
The NUP is now working within the system and preparing to participate in this. The NUP want to replace Mr. Update and have the seat in the end of the 11th Parliament. Though that is a short stint before having to participate yet again in the 2026 General Election. By the time the MP is sworn in…
The MP would only have 6 months or possibly max 8 months or so. As the 11th Parliament has to accept the election and swear the MP in. That is up to the Speaker and Deputy Speaker to make it happen as Parliament Business. We just have to await… and see how that one plays out.
That the NUP is doing this isn’t surprising. There is already several candidates and people who wants to takeover the seat. These are running social media campaigns and published posters with slogans. They are ready to step up and take over as the flagbearer. It just shows how quickly someone takes over from the late. Instead of grieving or even honour the late. These cannot wait for their turn and be the next legislator who is getting in office.
Mr. Update deserves better than this. The system and the authorities doesn’t care, but the NUP should have honoured this man. They held the burial, but now they are contesting his seat like an ordinary day. The party just unleashing the ability to nominate themselves and telling when they will announce the candidate. Regardless of who this is… they will never be Mr. Update or live up to his potential. Mr. Update is one in a million and no one will be able to takeover from him. That heart and the voice of reason doesn’t come natural to plenty of others.
That’s why I wanted the NUP to boycott this one and instead held a longer period of mourning of Mr. Update. In this way have better time and be able to find the righteous candidate to step into the shadow of Mr. Update. Instead it will now be a petty fight within the party and also be a rushed campaign. The late MP deserves a better man and possibly someone who could revisit his love for the constituency.
The NUP cannot and aren’t able to find that suitable man within a hot minute. We shouldn’t expect magic, but surely … this is just rushed, and the constituency deserves better. They had a great leader and MP. They should have more time and now will be traded off in a hasteful campaign. That is where we are going… Peace.
MinBane 