NRM district chairpersons want Local Govt Act amended

Former Teso affairs state minister Christine Amongin Aporu has urged President Yoweri Museveni to trigger an amendment to the Local Government Act to allow National Resistance Movement (NRM) party district chairpersons to become members of district councils.

Currently, under Ugandan law, a district council is the highest political and planning authority within a district, functioning as a corporate body with legislative, executive, and planning powers.

It is composed of elected councillors from lower local governments, as well as representatives of special interest groups such as workers.

The council is tasked with overseeing service delivery, promoting local economic development, and guiding governance in the district.

Aporu, who recently bounced back as Kumi district NRM chairperson, made the request on behalf of other NRM district chairpersons during a private meeting with President Yoweri Museveni at Speaker Anita Annet Among’s residence in Bukedea district.

The meeting took place shortly before the President proceeded to a Thanksgiving ceremony at Bukedea Comprehensive School, where he met with NRM village leaders, flag-bearers, and LC1 chairpersons.

Also in attendance was businessman Capt. Mike Mukula, who is incumbent and vying for the position of NRM vice-chairperson for Eastern Uganda and musician Moses Ssali, popularly known as Bebe Cool, among others.

“The chairpersons are requesting for transport for mobilisation of members within communities of Teso region and for networking with other districts. Secondly, your excellency we need the amendment to the Local Government Act to allow the chairpersons of NRM to be part of the district council so that the chairpersons are able to mobilise and monitor all the Government programmes that are put across by your Government,” she said.

“Number three, we need to empower the chairpersons of the party by paying an emolument on a monthly basis. A stipend to help them to work… There is also a need for transport for sub-county chairpersons and LC I chairpersons,” Aporu added.

While a number of village chairpersons we spoke to supported these, it is yet to be known how this will be received by the public, which of late has grown weary of the huge administrative structure of the country.