The seat became vacant following the death of Muhammad Ssegirinya, the former Member of Parliament for the area, who passed away on January 9, 2025, at Lubaga Hospital.
Ssegirinya, who was affectionately known as "Mr. Update," was a strong supporter of the National Unity Platform (NUP) party.
His death, after battling a long illness, has left the people of Kawempe North and his supporters in mourning.
He was buried on January 12, 2025, in his hometown of Butale-Kaddugala, Masaka City.
However, the funeral was not without drama. There were disagreements between Ssegirinya’s family and NUP leaders over the handling of the body.
Family members were upset when NUP leaders refused to allow the body to be taken to Parliament for official prayers.
Instead, the body was locked in a small house, with guards placed around it until the time for burial. This disagreement added to the already emotional situation, causing tensions between the family and party leaders.
Julius Mucunguzi, the spokesperson for the Electoral Commission, explained the process for holding a by-election.
"The Electoral Commission awaits notification from the Clerk to Parliament, informing us that there is a vacant position of a Member of Parliament. The law requires that this notification takes place within 10 days after the death of the incumbent. Once we receive the notification, we must organize the by-election within 60 days," Mucunguzi said.
The Clerk to Parliament, Adolf Mwesige Kasaija, officially announced Ssegirinya’s death in the New Vision on January 13, 2025. In a statement, Speaker Anita Among expressed her sorrow and praised Ssegirinya for his service to Kawempe North.
As the seat remains vacant, the race to replace Ssegirinya has already begun. Several individuals have expressed interest in running for the position.
NUP leader Bobi Wine, speaking at Ssegirinya’s funeral, announced that the party would soon meet to decide who would be their candidate for the by-election.
Among those interested in the seat are former Democratic Party spokesperson Luyimbaazi Nalukoola, who recently joined NUP.
Other names being mentioned are Ssegirinya’s former assistant, Alex Wasswa, and Umar Magala, a former NUP registrar for Kawempe. Each of these potential candidates has the support of various groups within the party, making the competition for the seat fierce.
The delay in receiving the official notification from Parliament has left the timeline for the by-election unclear.
Once the notification is received, the Electoral Commission will have 60 days to organize the election.
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