Kadaga wants nomination fees reduced from Shs 3 million to Shs 400,000

The Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga has asked Members of Parliament to review the nomination fee for parliamentary aspirants from the current Shs 3million to Shs 400,000 in the yet to be tabled electoral reforms

The speaker tabled the suggestion while opening the Commonwealth Youth Inclusion Regional Conference at Parliament on Monday.

She said it was unfortunate that the 9th Parliament increased the nomination fees from Shs 200,000 to Shs 3 million hence blocking the majority of the youth from joining politics.

At the Youth conference, the National Youth Council chairperson Lilian Aber decried the high level of commercialisation of politics that has kept majority of the youth out of the political making decision process of the country.

Kadaga said it was high time parliament reviewed the nomination fees in order to have an inclusive process that allows participation of the youth in Ugandan politics.

The British High Commissioner to Uganda, Peter West, together with Sophia Fernandes of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy said African countries have to work hard to remove the obstacles to democracy.