MP moots proposal to have term limits for district women MPs, PWDs

Gilbert Oulanyah, the MP for Kilak South has proposed that affirmative action political positions such as that of district woman MP, PWDs, and UPDF representatives should have term limits.

Oulanyah said this will create space for new and fresh politicians who are usually frustrated by the incumbents.

The Ugandan Parliament is composed of 238 Constituency representatives, 135 district Woman representatives, 10 Uganda People’s Defence Forces Representatives, five MPs for the Youth, five representatives of Persons with disabilities, 5 for the Workers and 13 ex officio members.

But out of the over 400 legislators in the 10th Parliament, there are less than 15 women who represent directly elected constituencies.

Oulanyah said this number is still small hence the need to have more women contesting in the directly elected constituencies.

Oulanyah said: "I have received a number of complaints from the potential young women who want to contest but they cannot because senior women politicians have refused to pave way even after being empowered politically and economically."

Oulanyah received the support of Beatrice Anywar, the Kitgum municipality MP who once represented Kitgum district as Woman MP.

Anywar said there is need to revisit the intention of affirmative action if it is to achieve the intended objectives.

However, Nakasongola Woman MP Margret Komuhangi opposed the idea saying term limits for Women MPs and PWDs will be discriminatory.