Tayari News
LUWERO – The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), through its Defence Forces Council electoral college, has today elected the 10 military representatives in the 12th Parliament that will be running from 2026-2031.
The election exercise held at the Land Forces headquarters in Bombo, Luweero district, was presided over by the Electoral Commission Chairperson Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama on Wednesday.
EC Returning Officer for the voting exercise, Ms Diana Kateeba Tumusiime, announced the winning candidates after a tedious tallying process, the Acting Director, Defence Public Information, Col. Chris Magezi.
The newly elected UPDF representatives in parliament include Lt. Gen. Sam Okiding, Lt. Gen. Sam Kavuma, Lt. Gen. James Mugira, Maj Gen Henry Masiko, Maj Gen James Kinalwa, Maj Gen Joseph Ssemwanga, Brig Gen David Gonyi, Col Night Ikiriza, Col Sylvia Meeme, and Col Christine Nekesa.
The UPDF, in accordance with the Constitution and the Parliamentary Elections Act, is one of the special interest groups represented in the parliament of Uganda. Others include district or city women representatives, workers’ representatives, youth representatives, and persons with disabilities.
The Defence Forces Council meeting was chaired by the President and Commander-In-Chief of the UPDF, General (retired) Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
The members of the Defence Forces Council include Members of the UPDF High Command, persons who were senior officers of the army as at 26 January 1986, chiefs and directors of services, commandants of training institutions, brigade and battalion commanders and officers commanding equivalent units of the Defence Forces. Other members include the Defence Forces Sergeant Major and regional reserve force commanders under the Reserve Forces.
At the same event, the President commissioned three Officer Cadets who completed their officer training from outside Uganda in December 2025. They are 2nd Lt Bazalaki Tikula, who trained in Sri Lanka, 2nd Lt Moses Ekoi and 2nd Lt Piloya Vivian, who trained in Tanzania.
How the representatives were voted;
– Lt Gen. Okiding — 346
– Col. Sylvia Meeme — 314
– Col. Night Ikiriza — 307
– Lt. Gen. James Mugira — 303
– Lt. Gen. Sam Kavuma — 282
– Brig. David Gonyi — 266
– Maj. Gen. Henry Masiko — 261
– Col. Victor Nekesa — 261
– Maj. Gen. James Kinalwa — 241
– Brig. Joseph Semwanga — 198