As various political parties unveil their strategies for the upcoming 2026 general elections, the former Leader of Opposition and current Nyendo Mukungwe MP, Mathias Mpuuga, who also serves as a commissioner of parliament, has put forth a request to introduce a private member’s bill focused on constitutional and electoral reforms.
In his proposed legislation, Mpuuga aims to reduce the number of seats in Uganda’s Parliament from 529 to 292. He contends that with a population of 45 million, such a large parliamentary body is unnecessary.
He stated that the existing number of MPs is excessive, and there are proposals for the establishment of two legislative bodies, including a Senate and a full House, to ensure substantial representation and address the concerns of the populace.
He pointed out that the recent census revealed a youth are the majority, yet they have less representation.
He said it is essential to implement proportional representation, with 50 MPs dedicated to representing the youth and an equal number for women.
His proposal includes designating one MP per district, alongside 156 women MPs, whose representation would be allocated based on the percentage of votes received by each party during elections.
Mpuuga insists that the 146 MP positions for districts and 10 for cities should remain, but their distribution should reflect the parties’ electoral performance. He believes this approach will alleviate political tensions by moving away from the current winner-takes-all system.
Additionally, Mpuuga proposes the establishment of a new parliamentary tier modeled after the American Senate, consisting of 39 MPs selected from Uganda’s original 39 districts. Other amendments he seeks include the election of a vice president who would preside over this upper house and ensuring that presidential election results are announced at the district level before being sent to the national tally center for official declaration.
He also advocates for voting rights for Ugandans living abroad and those incarcerated, emphasizing that everyone deserves the right to choose their leaders. Addressing journalists, Mpuuga dismissed claims that there isn’t enough time to implement these changes before the 2026 elections, labeling such arguments as complacent. He expressed willingness to integrate any amendments proposed by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Norbert Mao.
He also advocates for the reintroduction of term limits that were eliminated from the constitution in 2005, emphasizing that these limits are the most reliable method to guarantee a seamless transition in Uganda.
Mpuuga proposed reforms
1. Restore and entrench Presidential term limits.
2. Presidential candidate to have a run mate who shall be the Deputy President.
3. Introduce a 2nd tier of Parliament with 39 MPs from the original 39 districts of Uganda. The Deputy President shall be its head.
4. Reduce the size of Parliament to 292 MPs.
5. Allow ordinary voters to challenge in court the presidential election results.
6. Presidential election results for each district be declared at the district before their transmission to the National Tally Centre.
7. Allow prisoners and Ugandans in the diaspora to vote.
