Fiona Nakku has been elected the new National Female Workers Member of Parliament after defeating incumbent Agnes Kunihira by just three votes in Kampala. Nakku, who garnered 290 votes, secures the seat following a previous disqualification from a youth leadership race due to age eligibility disputes.
KAMPALA, Uganda — Fiona Nakku defeated incumbent Agnes Kunihira on Monday to become the new National Female Workers Member of Parliament.
Nakku garnered 290 votes, narrowly edging out Kunihira by a three-vote margin in an election held in Kampala.
Counting for other Workers MP seats continued late Monday at Kibuli Secondary School.
The victory follows a previous setback for Nakku, who was disqualified from the race for the National Female Youth MP flag bearer position due to age ineligibility. A letter from Dr. Tanga Odoi, the NRM Electoral Commission chairperson, confirmed her disqualification after petitions challenged her age.
One petition, filed by lawyer Aaron Amanya, alleged that Nakku was born Dec. 20, 1994, making her 31 years old and outside the constitutional youth age bracket of 18 to 30.
The NRM Electoral Commission stated it received confirmation from the National Identification and Registration Authority that Nakku exceeded the age limit for youth council positions. Ministry of Internal Affairs records also indicated she completed her senior four exams in 2010 at age 16.
Under the National Youth Council Act and the Parliamentary Elections Act, candidates for youth parliamentary seats must be between 18 and 30.
Age-related disputes frequently surface in youth leadership contests. In 2021, Chris Mufakinanye successfully petitioned against Blaise Kamugisha in the NRM Youth League chairperson race. Mufakinanye was also among those who petitioned against Nakku’s eligibility.
Nakku, reportedly the sister of NRM treasurer Babra Nekesa, had been considered a top contestant in the youth race before she was disqualified.
She previously lost the 2021 Busia District Woman MP race to Hellen Wandera.
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