Newly sworn-in Kawempe North MP, Hon. Erias Nalukoola, has requested Speaker Anita Among to grant him extended time on the Order Paper to articulate the challenges faced by his constituents.
His appeal follows a prolonged period without substantive representation due to the ill health of former MP Muhammad Ssegirinya, which left voters without an active voice in the 11th Parliament.
Nalukoola made the request after taking the Oath of Allegiance and the Oath of a Member of Parliament in the Speaker’s Chambers. He emphasized the need to brief Parliament and the nation on the dire state of affairs in Kawempe North.
“I request that when the sitting resumes, I be given an opportunity to communicate to Parliament and the nation about the state of affairs in Kawempe North, which has lacked representation for a long time. At that moment, I will also request additional minutes—those that were not used by our beloved Muhammad Ssegirinya. The people of Kawempe North will be grateful because, even as we speak now, we are suffering from floods, among other challenges,” Nalukoola said.
His plea underscores the constituency’s pressing issues, including persistent flooding and other socio-economic hardships that have worsened in the absence of an active MP.
In response, Speaker Anita Among acknowledged the gap in representation and agreed to allocate Nalukoola additional time to address Parliament.
“When the House resumes, we will give you space. Because, truth be told, they have not been represented for some time. Ssegirinya was sick for a long time, and they were deprived of representation. Welcome to the 11th Parliament,” she said.
The Speaker’s assurance has been met with optimism, as residents of Kawempe North look forward to renewed efforts to address their constituency’s challenges.
As Nalukoola takes on his new role, attention now shifts to how he will navigate Parliament to advocate for the pressing needs of his electorate.
His maiden speech is expected to highlight the plight of Kawempe North and set the tone for his legislative agenda.