Ezra Twino | Kampala | Sunday, May 3, 2026
KAMPALA — Competition for the ruling National Resistance Movement endorsement to fill two vacant slots in the East African Legislative Assembly is intensifying, with at least 38 aspirants expressing interest in representing Uganda at the regional parliament.
Among the contenders is Lauben Bwengye, a Public Policy Don, a former NRM Central Executive Committee vice chairman contestant for Western Uganda and a three time EALA contestant. Bwengye is positioning himself as a strongest candidate and is likely to give other candidates a running nose in the race.
Bwengye is seeking to fill one of the two vacancies among the nine positions Uganda sends to the regional assembly. The vacancies were occasioned after Hon. Denis Namara and Hon. James Kakooza won seats to Uganda’s 12th Parliament, leaving their EALA posts open.
ACADEMIC AND PARTY CREDENTIALS
Lauben Bwengye holds three Master’s degrees in Public Policy, International Business Law, and Investigative Journalism. His academic background also includes postgraduate diplomas in Administrative Law and Public Relations, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and Social Administration.
A veteran NRM cadre, he served as the first NRM chairperson at Makerere University in 2006. He is also a former contestant for the Central Executive Committee — the top organ of the NRM ruling party — which he vied for in 2025.
His other elective contests include bids for EALA in 2022, Member of Parliament for Kazo Constituency in 2020, and the 2017 EALA by-election.
“EALA needs legislators who understand both the law and the politics of integration. My training in policy, business law, and communication, plus my grounding in the NRM’s top structures, gives me that edge,” Lauben Bwengye said.
NRM ENDORSEMENT CRITICAL
Bwengye’s entry adds to an already competitive field as the NRM conducts internal processes to identify its flag bearers for the regional assembly.
A person endorsed by NRM enjoys an upper hand, given that the party still commands a majority of elected MPs to the 12th Parliament, as it did in the 11th Parliament which constitutes the electoral college. The nine EALA members are elected by Parliament, meaning NRM’s numerical strength gives its flag bearers a decisive advantage.
Uganda sends nine members to EALA. With Namara and Kakooza now in the 12th Parliament, their two seats must be filled through a by-election by the House. By convention, NRM takes six of the nine Uganda slots, with the opposition taking three, based on numerical strength.
Analysts expect a closely contested selection process given the number and profile of aspirants. Lobbying of NRM MPs, who form the core of the electoral college, has already intensified.
THE STAKES
The EALA race comes as Parliament prepares to debate the redrafted Protection of Sovereignty Bill on Tuesday, May 5, 2026 — legislation with direct implications for Uganda’s EAC Treaty obligations on free movement of capital, goods, and persons.
NEXT: The NRM Electoral Commission is expected to release guidelines for the EALA primaries this month.
Eastafricaobserver will profile all major EALA aspirants. The two vacant seats must be filled before the end of the current EALA term in December 2027.