Elias Luyimbazi Nalukoola has officially been sworn in as the Member of Parliament for Kawempe North, bringing an end to weeks of uncertainty.
The swearing-in ceremony, which took place today at the Speaker’s Chambers, was presided over by Speaker Anita Among, who congratulated Nalukoola on his landslide victory and welcomed him to the House.
The event was attended by a host of people, the Leader of opposition Joel Ssenyonyi who escorted Nalukoola, fellow MPs, and excited supporters who gathered to witness the momentous occasion.
Nalukoola, who ran under the National Unity Platform (NUP) banner, crushed his competition in the election, securing a whopping 17,939 votes. His closest rival, Faridah Nambi,(NRM) was left in the dust with just 9,058 votes, making his victory one of the most decisive wins in the recent parliamentary races.
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Delays in the Electoral Commission’s gazettement of his victory had kept the people of Kawempe North on edge, with concerns growing over why the process was taking longer than expected. NUP leaders had to intervene, engaging the Electoral Commission to push for faster action. Speaker Among acknowledged these concerns but reassured the public that due process had been followed and that Nalukoola was now free to begin serving his constituents.
In his speech, Nalukoola was full of gratitude, thanking his supporters, the NUP party, and his family for standing by him.
“This victory belongs to the people of Kawempe North. I am here because of you, and I promise to be your voice in Parliament,” he declared.
He also appreciated the Speaker Among for honoring the gazette and swearing-in. Nalukoola however requested the Speaker to grant him extra time when Parliament resumes to address issues faced by his constituents in Kawempe North like the current floods from the rains.
“Madam Speaker, I request that when the sitting resumes, I will be accorded an opportunity to communicate to Parliament and the nation about the state of affairs of Kawempe North constituency, which has not been represented substantively for so long, And at that moment, I will make a request that we be accorded some more minutes, those which have not been used by our beloved, Muhammad Ssegirinya. Indeed, the people of Kawempe North will be so grateful, because even as we talk now, we are suffering from floods, among other predicaments,”Nalukoola said.
The Speaker acknowledged his request and also directed the clerk to Parliament Adolf Mwesigye to ensure Nalukoola gets all benefits he is entitled to as a legislator including a car.
“When the House resumes, we will give you space. Because truth be told, they’ve not been represented for some time, because Ssegirinya was sick for some time, and they were deprived of representation. Welcome to 11th Parliament.”
Nalukoola while speaking to journalists wasted no time outlining his priorities, vowing to fight for better service delivery, improved infrastructure, and stronger accountability in government. He also said that he would remain committed to the values of transparency, justice, and the empowerment of the people.
