Voters from Lango Sub-region are demanding that more than 300 Members of Parliament (MPs) exit the August House to cut on public expenditure.
They say the Parliament in its current size comprising 557 MPs, has become a huge economic burden to the people of Uganda. In their quest for political and constitutional reforms, the voters suggest that each district should only send two MPs; one male and one female.
They say most women are now empowered and can compete with men at all levels of politics. Also, they demand open competition for political positions, including youth, elderly, workers and persons with disabilities.
More than 1,000 voters interviewed by Lango Civil Society Network, an umbrella body of civil society organizations, also suggested that the army should be removed from Parliament since they are workers therefore represented by the Workers MPs.
According to Lango Civil Society Network, Ugandan MPs earn about 35 million monthly, which is far higher than what is paid to most European countries’ MPs.
During a consultative meeting on political and constitutional reforms held at Margaritha Palace Hotel in Lira City last Friday, lawyers and leaders from Lango subregion agreed that there is a need to reduce the size of Parliament.
