By KT Reporter
Residents of Bukedea District have called on National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi to restore presidential term limits if elected in the January 15, 2025, general elections.
The appeal comes ahead of Kyagulanyi’s campaign visit to Bukedea District, where he is seeking support for his presidential bid. Residents say only a new and people-centred leadership can reinstate term limits, arguing that the current regime is resistant to change and intent on prolonging its stay in power.
The residents insist that term limits should apply across all leadership levels, from local government to the presidency, noting that such reforms would introduce fresh ideas and solutions to persistent service delivery challenges.
Muhammad Otai, a youth in Bukedea District, said leaders limited to a maximum of ten years in office would be more accountable and committed to service delivery, knowing their time in leadership is finite.
He noted that leaders who stay in power for generations often become complacent and exploit public resources without accountability.“We need leaders who bring new energy, skills, and innovative thinking to drive development,” Otai remarked.
Abraham Ochola, a resident of Komuge Sub-county, said poor service delivery in Uganda is largely a result of prolonged incumbency. He argued that restoring term limits would empower citizens to freely choose leaders who genuinely represent their interests.
“Local communities know best who is capable of serving them, so people should have a mandate to choose their leaders instead of being forced,” Ochola said.
Ochola also criticized the state of education in Bukedea, calling for leadership that prioritizes the welfare of citizens over personal interests.
“Leaders must face the reality that there is a time to lead and a time to step down. What legacy do you leave behind—pain or progress?” he asked.
Babra Amuge, another resident, condemned coercive tactics often used to retain political power, saying such practices undermine the will of the people. She called for a new Uganda that embraces term limits and age limits across all elective offices.
Julius Opio, a resident of Kachumbala County, noted that this is Kyagulanyi’s first visit to the district and expressed hope that the NUP leader would address the long-standing challenges faced by the people of Bukedea.
He called for the strengthening of government systems and the reinstatement of age limits, arguing that leadership should not be monopolized by elderly leaders clinging to power.
“We have qualified, educated individuals ready to lead; the system has just been manipulated to favour a select few,” Opio said. Opio also highlighted unresolved challenges in the Teso sub-region, particularly the unfulfilled promises of restocking cattle lost during the insurgency. He urged Kyagulanyi to prioritize the issue if elected.
Charles Ongelech, a former NUP candidate for Kachumbala County, said deliberate efforts have been made to maintain the status quo in leadership. He appealed to Kyagulanyi to restore term limits, describing them as critical to nurturing new leadership and political stability.
Ongelech criticized President Yoweri Museveni’s recent visit to Bukedea, saying the President failed to address key community concerns despite claims that residents were satisfied with the prevailing situation.
“Bukedea often feels isolated from the rest of Uganda. If Kyagulanyi is elected, we expect reforms that allow all Ugandans to exercise their rights freely, without being tied to the ruling party,” Ongelech said.
Uganda scrapped presidential term limits in 2005 and removed age limits in 2017 through constitutional amendments, paving the way for President Museveni—who has been in power since 1986—to continue contesting indefinitely.
Supporters argue that the changes promote stability and development, while critics say they entrench a life presidency and weaken democratic governance.
Kyagulanyi is expected to continue his campaign trail in Ngora District later today, before addressing a rally in Bukedea. He has spent over a week touring the Teso sub-region, engaging voters and seeking support to lead the country toward what he describes as a “new Uganda.”
-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
