Parliament has extended the term of office for Local Councils 1 and 2, and the term of office for Women Councils as well for another 180 days.

The extension follows the tabling of the statutory instruments providing for the extension on the floor of the August House.

While chairing the sitting, Speaker Anita Among tasked the Minister for Local Government to lay the statutory instruments for House approval, noting that they were seconded by cabinet prior to the expiry of the extended term of office for the local councils on January 5, 2024.

She observed that on July 28, 2023, the government initially tabled a statutory instrument extending their term of office for six months.

This was attributed to a lack of funds to hold elections for new officeholders at the time.

“The 180 days were to expire on January 5, 2024, prompting the minister to issue this extension on December 29, 2023, so that he was not caught up by time. The documents are fully gazetted and have been laid on the table for retrospective approval,” Among said.

The new statutory instruments for the extension of term office for the Local Councils and Women Councils were tabled on the floor by Government Chief Whip, Hamson Obua, and Minister for Gender, Labour, and Social Development, Betty Amongi, respectively.

Busiro East County MP Medard Ssegona challenged the new statutory instruments providing for the extension.

“Under no circumstances can a statutory instrument amend the principle legislation. The term of office for local councils is fixed at five years,” Ssegona said.

The Attorney General, Kiryowa Kiwanuka, however, noted that the amendment providing for the statutory instruments was made in accordance with provisions in the Local Government Act, Cap. 243.