Uganda legislator rejects term limits for affirmative action seats
“This research actually proposes term limits on reserved seats. It does not propose term limits for open seats, and we need to think carefully about that…The argument could be you serve and allow others to serve as well. But what about the open seats? Don’t we want them to serve and also give a chance to others to serve?” Kanushu wondered.
On Friday, Kanushu said imposing term limits on all lawmakers would be a fairer option than restricting them to affirmative action positions.
KAMPALA - National Female MP for Persons with Disabilities Laura Kanushu has called for the introduction of term limits for all parliamentary seats. Saying the move would help level the playing field for women.
She echoed this on July 3, 2026, during a panel discussion on affirmative action at the ongoing induction programme for Members of Parliament (MPs) at Speke Resort Munyonyo.
On Friday, Kanushu said imposing term limits on all lawmakers would be a fairer option than restricting them to affirmative action positions.
She was responding to State Minister for Gender Peace Regis Mutuuzo's 2023 PhD thesis titled “Affirmative Action for Women's Political Participation and Gender Transformation in Uganda.”
The study points out that despite the increased number of women in Parliament, gender inequality persists across homes, communities and political spaces. Owing to a range of factors, including the confinement of many women leaders to reserved seats.
“This research actually proposes term limits on reserved seats. It does not propose term limits for open seats, and we need to think carefully about that…The argument could be you serve and allow others to serve as well. But what about the open seats, don’t we want them to serve and also give a chance to others to serve?” Kanushu wondered.
“In my understanding, it could actually help more women compete on the open seats. Because if I am competing with a first-timer who is a man, it is not like competing with my colleague Alex Ndeezi (MP for PWDs) who has been in Parliament for seven terms. I think the issue of term limits should cut across; it should not be put only on the women representatives,” she argued.
Elective positions
Affirmative action, which is rooted in Article 32 of the Constitution, was introduced about 30 years ago, providing for 30% reserved seats for women at local government level and one woman district representative per district.
In the current Parliament, which comprises 529 directly elected members, men account for 342 while women account for 186 lawmakers, respectively.
Additionally, Uganda also has one capital city, Kampala, 10 regional cities, 135 districts, 25 city divisions, 31 municipalities, 580 town councils, 2,191 sub-counties, 10,717 parishes and 71,214 villages, each with ring-fenced positions for workers, youth, women and older persons.
About the study
The study, involving 400 respondents, was conducted in four districts and included 118 key informants, comprising 38 MPs and 80 councillors as well as 116 focus group discussions.
According to the research, while 29% of respondents commended female leaders such as former Vice President Specioza Kazibwe and former Speaker Rebecca Kadaga for being more vocal, 59.5% of respondents stereotyped female politicians as having abandoned family values, while 27.8% viewed women as weak.
Societal biases, she pointed out, unfortunately were much alive in this age, citing the case of former Sheema Municipality MP Naome Kibaaju who was bullied while competing for a seat against a male counterpart back in the day.