Parliament has approved Stella Kiryowa and Fred Rwakaizi Bangumya to represent Uganda in the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).
The two National Resistance Movement candidates will fill seats left vacant after James Kakooza and Dennis Namara joined Uganda’s 12th Parliament.
Parliament endorsed the pair on July 16, 2026, after adopting a report from its Verification Committee.
Committee chairperson Dicksons Kateshumbwa said Kiryowa and Bangumya were the only candidates who submitted nomination papers before the July 10 deadline.
The committee found that both candidates met the requirements under Article 80 of Uganda’s Constitution and Article 50 of the East African Community Treaty.
Speaker Jacob Marksons Oboth then invited the candidates to introduce themselves and address MPs.
Kiryowa said she began her journey as a young girl in the corridors of Parliament and now hoped to help shape the future of more than 300 million East Africans.
“It is no longer a question of whether East Africa can unite. The question before us today is: what kind of East Africa are we leaving for the next generation?” she said.
Bangumya said Uganda holds an important position in advancing the East African Community’s four pillars.
He pledged to promote cross-border trade and support sustainable regional infrastructure.
Oboth said Parliament did not need to hold a secret ballot because the number of candidates matched the two vacant seats.
Both candidates had also secured the required nominations and faced no opposition.
Kiryowa and Bangumya will join Uganda’s seven serving EALA representatives at the regional assembly in Arusha, Tanzania.
They are Rose Akol Okullu, Paul Mwasa Musamali, George Stephen Odongo, Mary Mugyenyi, Gerald Blacks Siranda, Jacquiline Amongin and Veronica Babirye Kadogo.
