NRM’s Isaac Joakino Etuka yesterday took his second oath as Upper Madi member of parliament in the 10th parliament.
Etuka was sworn in during the afternoon parliament sitting chaired by Deputy Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah. Etuka, who first swore in as MP for Upper Madi in May 2016, lost his seat following a court petition by independent candidate Martin Drito.
The Court of Appeal then annulled his election on grounds that his name irregularly appeared on the ballot paper of the 2016 parliamentary contestants’ list despite being de-nominated by the returning officer at the time.
Etuka, however, reclaimed his seat in a by-election held last month after garnering 10,075 votes to beat his immediate challenger, John Arumadri from Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), who got 1,174 votes. Drito, an independent, got 1,223 votes.
Oulanyah welcomed back the legislator saying that the people of Upper Madi had anointed him to continue being their voice in the House.
“I am certain that this is the last swearing in ceremony you have to go through in the 10th Parliament. It is indeed strong men like you who can make a political comeback,” said Oulanyah.
“I urge you to reunite the people for peace, order and development after this by-election.”
With the Upper Madi constituency filled, it now leaves four vacant seats in parliament including Kyadondo East recently won by musician Robert Kyagulanyi, Persons With Disabilities (Northern), Persons With Disabilities (Western) and Kibanda North.
