Special Interest MP seats reviewed every five years

In his letter, “All interest groups should have MPs” (Daily Monitor February 8), Geofrey Ayeni says there is marginalisation in Parliament, considering that some interest groups like the UPDF are represented while others like the unemployed are not.

Several organised groups of people have in the recent past petitioned the Speaker requesting that Parliament offers them a special seat in the House. Many of them have argued that issues affecting them are not addressed.

These groups have included – the albinos, elderly and abatasoma, among others.
Currently, the special interest groups provided for in Parliament are the Youth, Workers, Persons With Disabilities, the Army and Women. These are provided for under Article 78 of the Constitution that addresses the Composition of Parliament.

It should be noted that the request(s) by the author are catered for under Article 78 (2) of the Constitution – which says that the representation of special interest groups named in the Constitution be reviewed 10 years after the commencement of the Constitution and every five years thereafter. This review, the Constitution says, is done with the intention of “retaining, increasing or abolishing any such representation.”

The review mentioned above has been done and Parliament has not found it necessary or even voted to increase or abolish this special interest groups representation in the House.

Mohammed Katamba,
Parliament of Uganda