Kampala, Uganda – June 28, 2026 – The political landscape is heating up following the official notice from Parliament regarding the roadmap for the by-election to fill Uganda’s vacant seats in the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA). With the nomination of candidates set for July 9-10, 2026, and the parliamentary vote scheduled for August 4, 2026, the race has officially begun.
The by-election was necessitated after former EALA Members, Hon. James Kakooza and Hon. Denis Namara, vacated their seats to join the 12th Parliament of Uganda following the January general elections .
According to the official notice from the Clerk to Parliament, Adolf Mwesige Kasaija, the picking of nomination forms precedes the formal nomination exercise scheduled for July 9-10, 2026 . The elections will be conducted by Members of Parliament on August 4, 2026 .
As the nation looks towards Arusha, a strong voice is emerging in the candidacy of Dr. Ronex Kisembo Tendo. Supporters and analysts argue that at a time when regional integration requires experienced hands, Kisembo represents "tested commitment, not experiments."
"Uganda doesn't need learners in Arusha. We need a man who already knows the table. No crash courses," said a source close to the campaign, echoing the candidate's growing support base. "Campaigns don't build experience. Years do."
Dr. Kisembo,is not a newcomer to the regional integration agenda. As the Group CEO of the Uganda Chapter of Afrika Mashariki Fest, he has spent nearly two decades building bridges across borders and advocating for a united East Africa .
"He is the only man who deserves to be elected because he has the heart for East Africa," a supporter noted.
His vision extends beyond mere representation; he has been a vocal advocate for deeper integration, including the establishment of a unified East African standby army and a single civil aviation authority for the region. "He believes East Africa must be one," the source added.
Proponents argue that Kisembo’s leadership is defined by action, not ambition. "He volunteered, donated, and served. That’s leadership. He didn’t wait to be called; he showed up," they emphasize.
His candidacy has received significant editorial support, with commentators describing him as an individual with a "lived experience" in regional cooperation . According to Article 50 of the EAC Treaty, candidates must demonstrate proven experience or interest in fostering regional cooperation—criteria that Kisembo’s supporters say he meets with distinction .
"He has built relationships within the East African Legislative Assembly leadership and secretariat, not as a newcomer seeking entry, but as a familiar actor within the ecosystem of integration," wrote Gyagenda Semakula Zikusooka Ssajjabbi in a recent analysis .
The upcoming election is critical as Uganda strives to maintain full representation in the regional parliament. The successful candidates will serve the remainder of the 5th Assembly’s term, concluding in December 2027 .
With the election just weeks away, the message from the Kisembo camp is clear: Arusha needs energy, it needs experience, and above all, it needs representation that understands the delicate interplay between national interest and regional ambition. "Tendo Ronex remains the top tier as far as integration and EAC affairs are concerned," a source concluded. "Game on."
Speaking exclusively on the state of regional integration, Dr. Kisembo noted with concern that while budgets for 2026/27 have been presented across the partner states, there was a conspicuous absence of funds dedicated to making East Africans aware of their own community.
“All the partner states have read their budgets. We need to pay attention. There was no money allocated for popularizing the East African Community,” Kisembo asserted. “I expect to see deliberate efforts by finance ministers to allocate budgets for this cause.”
Dr. Kisembo took particular issue with the current fragmented approach to marketing the region’s tourism potential. He argued that individual national campaigns – Uganda’s Explore Uganda, Tanzania’s Unforgettable Tanzania, Rwanda’s Visit Rwanda, and Kenya’s Magical Kenya – should be scrapped in favor of a unified brand.
“This fragmentation of marketing tourism attractions should stop,” he said. “Instead, we should have Visit East Africa and show the beauty of East Africa as one destination.”
The EALA hopeful emphasized that budgets must focus greatly on critical infrastructure, particularly a standard railway gauge that would seamlessly connect the region.
“We need a railway where one can travel from Malaba to Kampala, to western Uganda, to eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, and later to South Sudan,” he outlined, painting a vision of a physically integrated East Africa.
While Dr. Kisembo expressed appreciation for the Ugandan government and President Museveni’s commitment to purchase 10 aircraft for Uganda Airlines, he urged regional leaders to take bolder steps.
“Merging Kenya Airways, FlyRwandAir, Uganda Airlines, and Air Tanzania should be prioritized by our East African heads of state,” Kisembo declared. “This will significantly boost the aviation sector through affordable tickets, increase cross-border mobility, and improve trade and domestic tourism.”
To drive his point home, he highlighted a glaring disparity:
“International airspace from Entebbe to Nairobi costs $600 for a flight of 40 minutes, yet the same flight from Mombasa to Nairobi on domestic airspace costs only $150 for a return flight of 40 minutes.”
He cited South Korea as a model – a nation with standard railway gauge, cheap airspace, and good roads that have made movement remarkably fast.
Dr. Kisembo stressed that respective ministries of EAC partner states must budget for popularizing integration through Kiswahili as a language of trade and wider communication.
“There is no integration without a common language,” he stated firmly.
On security, Dr. Kisembo praised Uganda’s budget allocation of Shs 10.21 trillion for peace and security in the 2026/27 financial year, calling it very good.
“Peace is the foundation for investor confidence and businesses,” he said, urging full support for the East Africa Standby Force to ensure stability across the region.
He also commended the Ministry of Education and Sports for allocating Shs 460.78 billion towards hosting the African Cup of Nations (AFCON), describing sports as a powerful vehicle for regional unity. He noted that the joint bid to host AFCON was a good step, and applauded the leadership for the budgetary commitment.
