By Our Correspondent in Masaka.
Labour unions affiliated to the National Organisation of Trade Unions (NOTU) have recommended introduction of term limits for Woirkers Members of Parliament. They said some legislators have stayed in the House for too long thereby denying chance to potential workers’ represantatives among trade unionists.
Speaking during NOTU leadership workshop at Masaka’s Maria Flo hotel, Chairpersons and General Secretaries noted that the number of potential Workers MPS is growing day by day but some incumbent MPS have over stayed in Parliament and are not showing signs of exiting.
They calle do two terms , three terms for performing legislators and a maximum of four terms for exceptionary performing Workers Members of Parliament.
The leaders noted that with five slots for workers representatives in the House it was unfair to make the opportunity a preserve for a few.
Amalgamated Transport Union General Secretary Mr Stephen Abima, Infrastructre Union General Secretary Mr Robert Matukhu and Uganda Hotels, Tourism and Super Markets Union General Secretary Mr Moses Mauku, reported in their groups demands for term limits.
Female Workers MP Hon. Agnes Kunihira supported the proposal for legilstors term limits.
She said if a workers MP succeeds to get elected thrice consecutive in a row then its prudent for him or her to give way to others to also “share the national cake”.
The legislator promised to exit the House in 2031 if she suceeds in getting elected in the 2026 Parliamentary elections.
She said:” If I succeed in getting elected to Parliament in 2026 i shall not seek re-election in 2031.”
But Workers Member of Parliament Hon Arinaitwe Rwakajara challenged General Secretaries to lead by example and relinquish power peacefully.
He said there are leaders who have been in office for over 30 years and they are not showing no signs of leaving their positions.
” You want term limits for MPS but you continue holding positions for decades,” he said.
Hon Rwakajara said some unions are meare skeletons or “briefcase” unions that exist only on paper, and in the General Secretaries pockets.
NOTU Secretary General Hon. Peter Werikhe said there are unions that have never held QDCs or even Annual General Meetings but they want strangle federation officials for not holding many General Council meetings.
” Unions cannot even hold their QDC or AGMs but are striving to push NOTU convene General Council meetings,” he said.
Uganda Electricity Union General Secretary Mr Tom Amiti said Labour unions are too disorganised that they dont even hold AGMs or meetings for their National Executive Committee.
He said: ” You must start reforms at your union level. Organise planning meetings for your NEC and members then later think about NOTU.”
Workers Member of Parliament Hon Charles Bakkabulindi said visibility is paramount in trade unionism as this is the only way of attracting membership.
He said while trade union leaders are proposing term limits for their representatives in parliament there is bill in the offing that aims aat reducing the size of parliament.
The legislator said of the six Special Interest groups that include Women, youth, Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF), Elderly, Workers and People with Disability, its Workers that that are endangered. Leaders said it would be ridiculous to reduce or scrap workers representatives in Parliament trade unions are demanding for the numbetr to be increased from five to 10. Workers are reprensented by five legislators of which one is specifically reserved for Female.
The five Workers MPs are Hon. Margaret Rwabushaija Namubiru, Hon. Arinaitwe Rwakajara, Hon. Charles Bakkabulindi, Hon Abdulhu Byakatonda and Female Workers MP Hon Agnes Kunihira Abwoli■
