The Minister for ICT and Information Dr. Chris Baryomunsi says Cabinet has endorsed a proposal to address the vacuum caused by the expiry of the term of Administrative Unit Councils and extend the term of Local Council I and II by six months.
Speaking at the Uganda Media Center on Tuesday morning, the Minister stated that a cabinet meeting on Monday resolved to push the term for LCs by 180 days because it is provided for under the law. He further explained that this decision will also require approval from Parliament before the government releases an official notice.
According to Baryomunsi, a statutory instrument will be laid in parliament, and once it is approved the extension will take effect from the date of expiration of posts, July 10, 2023.
“Cabinet approved that proposal but what follows next is we shall have to get approval from Parliament and once the Statutory instrument has been laid in parliament and is approved, then the Minister for local government will issue the notice of the term. This extension retrospective will take effect from 10th July 2023, to validate any action that will have been taken by the local councils from the date when their term expired.” He said
The term of office of LC I and LCII chairpersons expired on 10 July 2023.
Government extended the term of office of the LCs however, some lawmakers and members of the public have demanded that the government look for funds for elections to take place because there is no law that supports any extension and the relevance of the office is very sensitive and key.
Last week, the Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon Anita adjourned plenary prematurely after the Attorney General, Kiwanuka Kiryowa delivered a brief statement on the extension of the LCs term in office, that irked MPs.
Kiryowa told the house that the immediate recently elected leadership of the administrative units should continue rendering the necessary services to the people in observance of the spirit and principle of the Constitution that there should never be a vacuum in leadership.
He stated that this situation needed approval from Cabinet and Parliament.
However, Among challenged the government to present a statutory instrument for an extension, to ensure the extension is lawful.
“I am not going to continue on something that is illegal. Government must advise the country on the way forward. We need a position of government, not to continue speculating,” she said