26 candidates eye five slots for workers' representatives in Parliament

Twenty-six candidates, including a musician, are interested in the five seats available for workers' representatives in Uganda's next Parliament.

For the election of Workers' MPs, things work differently. The process involves a multi-tiered system that leads up to a national electoral college, as per Section 15 of the Parliamentary Elections Act.

To begin with, delegates are first elected at the sub-county/town/division level from a register of non-unionized workers. 

These delegates then form a district/city conference to elect representatives for the regional level, where a final electoral college selects the Members of Parliament.
 
The stage is now set for next year's electoral college polls, with 26 candidates duly nominated to vie for the five parliamentary slots.

The occupants of the seats are meant to represent the interests of workers alongside other indirectly elected groups like youth, persons with disabilities, and older persons.

Arinaitwe Rwakajara, the chairman of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) workers league, is seeking to retain his parliamentary seat in a crowded field of contenders.

Arinaitwe Rwakajara, the chairperson National Resistance Workers League, is seeking re-election for the Workers MP seat. (Credit: Wilfred Sanya)

While launching his manifesto at Serena Hotel in Kampala last Saturday, he said he wants to remain in Parliament "to accomplish my agenda".

Rwakajara said he has consistently championed policies that advance economic, equity social justice, and sustainable development.

Annet Birungi, the secretary general of Uganda Nurses and Midwives Union, is also in the race.

"We shall advocate for legal assistance, improved workplace safety, a formal channel for communication and problem-solving with management,” she promised.

On her part, Victoria Abagaire Atukunda said that if she is elected to the 12th Parliament, she will come up with motions to protect Ugandan workers abroad.  

She said new laws should be enacted to include explicit provisions for labour export in the Employment Act, mandate bilateral labour agreements with destination countries, and strengthen regulations for recruitment agencies.

The current Workers' MPs are Rwakajara, Magret Namubiru Rwabushaija, Agnes Kunihira, Charles Bakkabulindi and Abdul Byakatonda.