The tenure of Local Council 1 and 2, as well as Women Councils has been prolonged for an additional 180 days extending until early July 2024.
This decision was reached following the presentation of statutory instruments facilitating the extension during a session held on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, within the legislative chamber.
During her role as the session’s chair, Speaker Anita Among assigned the Minister for Local Government the responsibility of presenting the statutory instruments for approval emphasizing that Cabinet had endorsed them prior to the expiration of the extended term on January 5, 2024.
She highlighted that on July 28, 2023, the government had initially introduced a statutory instrument extending the term of office by six months due to insufficient funds for conducting new elections at that time.
“The 180-day period was set to conclude on January 5, 2024, prompting the minister to announce this extension on December 29, 2023, to avoid any time-related issues. The documents have been fully published and are now presented on the table for retrospective approval,” Among explained.
The fresh statutory instruments, outlining the extension of the term of office for Local Councils and Women Councils were laid on the floor by Government Chief Whip, Hon. Hamson Obua and Minister for Gender, Labour, and Social Development, Hon. Betty Amongi, respectively.
However, Hon. Medard Sseggona (NUP, Busiro County East) contested the validity of the new statutory instruments enabling the extension.
“Under no circumstances can a statutory instrument alter the fundamental legislation. The fixed term of office for Local Councils is stipulated at five years,” argued Sseggona.
In response, the Attorney General, Kiryowa Kiwanuka clarified that the amendment facilitating the statutory instruments was executed in accordance with the provisions outlined in the Local Government Act Cap 243.
