East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) aspirant Abdallah Hamtono Mugerwa has formally petitioned the Speaker of Parliament, protesting the Clerk to Parliament’s refusal to receive his nomination papers and challenging the approval of two National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidates without a vote by Members of Parliament.
In a letter dated July 23, 2026, addressed to the Speaker through the Clerk to Parliament, Mugerwa described the actions as unlawful and procedurally irregular, arguing that they violated Uganda’s legal framework and the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community (EAC).
“I write to formally protest the unlawful and procedurally irregular conduct of the Clerk to Parliament in refusing to receive my nomination papers for election to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), and the subsequent approval of two National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidates without subjecting their candidature to a vote of Parliament,” Mugerwa stated.
He argued that the refusal to receive his nomination papers denied him the opportunity to participate in a lawful electoral process and deprived Members of Parliament of their constitutional and treaty-based mandate to elect Uganda’s representatives to EALA.
“Such conduct undermines the principles of fairness, transparency, equal opportunity and democratic participation that govern EALA elections,” he said.
Mugerwa further argued that the approval of the two NRM candidates without a parliamentary vote contravened Article 50 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community, which provides that EALA representatives shall be elected by the National Assembly from among nominees presented by political parties represented in Parliament, special interest groups and other stakeholders, in accordance with democratic principles.
He also cited the 2012 East African Court of Justice ruling in Democratic Party and Mukasa Fred Mbidde v. The Secretary General of the East African Community and the Attorney General of Uganda, arguing that the court affirmed that Uganda’s EALA election procedures must comply with Article 50 and reflect the political diversity of Parliament through a genuine democratic election.
According to Mugerwa, the court held that EALA elections should not be conducted in a manner that denies eligible candidates participation or limits Members of Parliament’s right to elect representatives through a transparent democratic process.
He accused the Clerk to Parliament of exceeding the administrative mandate of the office by excluding a qualified nominee from the electoral process.
“By refusing to receive my nomination papers, the Clerk to Parliament exceeded the administrative role of that office and unlawfully interfered with an electoral process that belongs to Parliament itself,” Mugerwa stated.
He maintained that an election cannot take place without voting by legislators.
“Approving candidates without a vote contradicts the very essence of an election. Elections necessarily involve deliberation and voting by Members of Parliament,” he argued.
In his petition, Mugerwa asked Parliament to declare the Clerk’s decision null and void, review and set aside the approval of the two NRM candidates, conduct a fresh EALA election in compliance with the EAC Treaty and Uganda’s laws, and ensure that all qualified nominees are given equal opportunity to participate.
He warned that he would seek legal redress if the matter is not addressed.
“Should these irregularities remain unaddressed, I reserve my right to seek appropriate redress before the competent courts and the East African Court of Justice for violations of the Treaty and the rule of law,” Mugerwa stated.
Copies of the petition were sent to President Museveni, the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, the Speaker of EALA and the Clerk to the East African Legislative Assembly.
