Lira I As the 2026 general elections draw closer, several civil society organizations (CSOs) are engaging parliamentarians, the judiciary, political groups and many stakeholders in the process of constitutional and electoral reforms.
This is according to Article one (1) of the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda as amended, stating that, “Power Belongs to the People.”
During their engagement with leaders across Lango sub-region on Friday, September 22, Lango Civil Society Network (LACSON) confirmed that in partnership with Uganda National NGO Forum, about 36 consultative meetings across five districts and Lira city in Lango sub-region have so far been conducted.
The meetings were conducted in Lira City, Dokolo, Alebtong, Kole and Lira districts, targeting a total population of 1080 citizens, including men, women, youth and Persons With Disabilities who were engaged in Ekyoto and Topowa forums.
Among issues consulted in deeper aspects included reducing the size of Parliament, Reinstatement of term and age limits, creation of an independent electoral commission and adjustments in the education qualification.
Others are strengthening civic and voter education, and review of election days of presidential, parliamentary and local council elections among others.
In her opening remarks based on Article 29 of the Constitution, Rebecca Alwedo Ogole, Deputy Mayor of Lira City Council said the consultation engagement on political and constitutional reforms is a vital tool in addressing political, social and economic issues that affect the common person.
“With freedom of speech and expression, we can spot issues affecting people as well as getting proper solutions to human issues,” she emphasized.
Counsel Raymond Ongom attached to Gumtwero Co., Advocates says Articles; 259,260,261 and 262 provide for amendment of the constitution where all the three arms of the government ought to work closely together noting that leaders represent the interests of the community.
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According to Counsel Ongom, for the Constitution to be amended, the Constitutional Review Commission should be established to enable a comprehensive analysis of the Constitution in its current status.
What leaders say
Susan Abeja, a woman Member of Parliament, Otuke district said reforms are needed to address issues raised during the election process.
Regarding the appeal by the community to scrap off independent candidates in parliament, Abeja, however, strongly disagreed with this, saying that parliament will strongly reject the view since parliament itself has independent legislatures representing different constituencies.
Abeja further notes that the biggest challenge in achieving political and constitutional reforms in Uganda is largely due to poor implementation.
“Yes, Uganda is a country with brilliant men and women but implementing whatever comes to the table is a challenge. Very many laws have been put on the table, amended but implementing them to achieve a given goal has always failed,” she added.
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Secretary for Education and Health, Lira district local government, Moses Otim notes that the big size of parliament has failed to deliver to the citizens as expected of them, a challenge he says is negatively affecting the common person who is the taxpayer in this context.
“No legislature in parliament will wish to exit the August house or even be a part of those talking about reducing the size of Parliament,” Otim added.
In their call for amendments, the need for education level is paramount, Otim says parliament doesn’t want to tag this aspect due to fear of being challenged by local government leaders, urging on wage difference.
“Like in the district council, I always pity the district Chairperson who has about 100 parishes to oversee yet end up with a salary wage of UGX1 million while a person who seats in parliament, moves around two or even one sub-county earns UGX35 million. When you talk about parliament empowering local government through tagging academic levels and also attaching salary scale, no one will wish to hear this,” he added.
Otim appealed to Members of Parliament to embrace the spirit of togetherness when talking about unity in Uganda, citing that they will have no direction if they work in a segregated manner.
He showed dissatisfaction with how some leaders use money to bribe voters to go to political positions.
“We have some MPs earning taxpayers money when they don’t deserve it. Sometimes when am watching parliament sessions, some MPs have never spoken on the floor of Parliament since they were elected yet we at the local government are discussing issues affecting the community but instead paid less. How will you work when you are not being facilitated?” Otim wondered.
Kenneth Owa Omara, Alebtong district speaker decried the absence of MPs of Lango sub-region who he says never show up for a consultative meeting, noting that Article 78 of the Constitution provides that Members of Parliament have to enact laws for the betterment of the common person.
Owa equally said that there is a need for proper facilitation of local government leaders to achieve a common goal, noting that local government will continue to see MPs as their biggest enemies due to the big wage difference
“This wage difference is unconstitutional, it’s against the law because the constitution states it clear that there should not be discrimination in all spheres of life,” Owa added.
David Kennedy Odongo is the Alebtong LC5 chairman. He has accepted a call to reduce the size of Parliament, urging that reducing the size of Parliament will enhance decision-making among the legislatures, reduce resource wastage and also enhance transparent accountability.
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“Once Parliament size is reduced, MPs will have enough time to discuss matters of importance that directly affect the citizens and also initiate good decisions that eventually facilitate good service delivery and accountability,” DK Odongo added.
Responding to the call to amend term limits and age limits, DK Odongo said this will reduce the entrenchment and allow fresh ideas from the young generation in turn reducing corruption tendencies and also enhancing a more balanced representation in parliament.
He also argued that reducing the parliamentary size will promote diversity and also enable easy assessment of individuals’ capacity and check readiness for one to take up office.
Odongo called for the amendment of an Independent Electoral Commission in Uganda to ensure a fair and transparent electoral process, noting that this will curb incidences seen in the 2021 general elections.
“Setting an independent electoral commission body in Uganda will ensure credibility and legal standardization in upholding the rule of law,” DK said.
The Alebtong chair also emphasized strengthening civic and voter education among the electorates, noting that this will help in empowering the citizens about the values of their leaders, enhancing voter turn up there by mitigating the spread of misinformation and voter bribery.
Meanwhile, Andrew Moses Awany, Kole district chair noted that Uganda will continue witnessing ‘a state of lakuna’ if civic and voter education is not taken up seriously because voters will still vote because of items given to them instead of casting votes to competent leaders.
Awany also seconded the proposal to have two MPs per district only if they are competent and relevant.
“Even at this point, some MPs can’t define issues affecting the people they represent. Some have even never raised matters of importance during a parliament session,” said Awany.
He also called for remuneration of local government leaders since they hold a bigger portion in ensuring that service delivery goes to the grassroots people, noting that the wage difference has incapacitated their work at the district level.
Responding to grievances of the local leaders over the low turn-up of MPs for consultative meetings, the Executive Director of Lango Civil Society Network, Dickens Ogwal confirmed that despite the efficient mobilization of the different Members of Parliament across Lango sub-region to aid and polish the political and constitutional amendment process ahead of the general elections, little was achieved.
“We mobilized Members of Parliament across the region. 10 had confirmed their attendance but on the D-Day, we only received one Member of Parliament. However, some of them sent in their apologies, which we acknowledged while the rest did not respond totally.”
Ogwal said that there is a need to carry out political and Constitutional Amendments ahead of the 2026 general elections to avoid incidents that were witnessed in the 2021 general elections.
According to Ogwal, the low turn-up of MPs can be attributed to the demand tagged on to them by the community as well as the system of governance the country has that has continuously made MPs shun such engagements.
“The group think that the party is killing the participation of MPs across the country. The participation of MPs on critical issues is very low due to the group thinking, and the political party thinking. Look at the recent performance of MPs in Parliament,” Ogwal added.
He appealed to political whips to allow MPs to be free in such engagements especially those set to address matters that affect the community and the country at large.
“If they don’t speak on such issues that affect their people then what are they doing in parliament? This, therefore, makes the point of reducing the size of Parliament stand valid,” said Ogwal.
He further called on the Members of Parliament to embrace consultative engagements on matters of political and Constitutional Amendments instead of thinking for themselves especially now that the 2026 general election roadmap is out, urging them to use this period to pick issues that affect their community and later place them before the floor of Parliament to get paramount solutions.
He also noted that Uganda is currently lacking intellectual and quality debate in Parliament except a few who try to bring out issues that affect the country.
“We should not even be crying over the World Bank cutting funding to Uganda but rather have a quality debate on what has to be done, engage people as well as increasing productivity of the local persons,” he noted.
“Uganda should use this time to think and rethink on how to build the country’s economy and survive with (without) loans but instead utilizing all natural resources to boost the economy and putting focus reducing the financial leakages in the different sectors,” he advised.
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