Sheema District Woman MP Hon. Rosemary Nyakikongoro, who lost in the National Resistance Movement (NRM) primaries to the new MP elect, Hon. Adrine Katusiime Mwebesa, has set her eyes on East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) seat this year. Once given the mandate, Hon Nyakikongoro wants to strengthen Uganda’s voice within the East African Community (EAC) and advancing deeper regional integration
She declared her intention to contest for the seat earlier this week as Uganda prepares to nominate her nine representatives to the regional parliament.
“I believe my experience in national legislation and regional advocacy positions me well to serve our people at EALA,” she said.
Regional Agenda
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, Nyakikongoro said her priorities at the regional level will include strengthening the Customs Union and Common Market, addressing non-tariff trade barriers, and promoting the free movement of people, labour, and capital across partner states.
“East Africa must work as one market, one people, one future,” she said.
She pledged to advocate for regional youth employment policies, cross-border innovation and technology hubs, and mutual recognition of academic qualifications among member states.
On trade and industrialisation, Nyakikongoro emphasised the need to boost regional manufacturing, promote value addition in agriculture, and support small-scale cross-border traders, especially women.
“We must export finished products, not raw materials,” she noted.
She also underscored the importance of peace and stability in attracting investment and pledged support for joint regional security frameworks and diplomatic conflict resolution mechanisms.
Nyakikongoro first entered Parliament in 2011 as the pioneer Woman Representative for Sheema District. She served in the Ninth Parliament, lost her seat in a subsequent election, and returned in 2021 on the NRM ticket.
She previously served for five years as a commissioner on the Judicial Service Commission. She also worked for Forum for Women in Democracy.
Her legislative focus has centred on gender equity, rural development, and women’s economic empowerment.
Most people in the country have welcomed her bid, citing her legislative experience.
Uganda’s Parliament is expected to vet candidates and elect the country’s nine representatives, whose names will then be forwarded to the EAC Secretariat ahead of the next Assembly session.
