President Yoweri Museveni has expressed regret over the constitutional provision that mandates minimum education requirements for Members of Parliament (MPs).

According to Article 80, Clause 1(c) of the Ugandan Constitution, a person is qualified to become an MP if they have completed at least an Advanced Level education or its equivalent.

In 2020, Parliament amended the Local Government Act, removing similar educational requirements for LC5 Chairpersons, Mayors, and other local leaders. However, there have been calls from activists and some Ugandans to increase the minimum education requirements for MPs and reintroduce them for local government leaders to enhance their ability to perform their duties effectively.

President Museveni, however, expressed regret for allowing the framers of the Constitution to impose these education requirements, arguing that it has led to some areas being represented by educated politicians who fail to advocate for their constituents’ interests.

He cited ongoing issues like land evictions and poor service delivery in rural areas as evidence that some educated MPs do not adequately represent the communities they serve.

Museveni further revealed that there were attempts to impose minimum education requirements for LC3 Chairpersons, but he opposed the proposal. He emphasized the importance of electing leaders who genuinely represent and fight for the interests of their people, regardless of their educational background.

To strengthen local governance, Museveni promised to increase the pay for LC3 Chairpersons and councillors to better equip them to serve their communities and address their concerns about inadequate facilitation.

“We made a mistake by tying MP representation to education. They wanted to extend this mistake to LC3 Chairpersons, but I refused. LC3 leaders should be elected based on their ability to represent and advocate for you, not their educational qualifications,” Museveni said.

The President made these remarks while speaking at Kalule Playground in Luwero Town, where he commissioned a new three-story workshop building for Excel Vocational Training Center. His comments were in response to complaints from residents about widespread land evictions, which were relayed by Hadijah Namyalo, the coordinator of his party office in Kyambogo, Kampala.

Museveni also commended the director of Excel Vocational Training Center for the institution’s role in equipping young people with valuable skills. He pledged government support to help the school obtain a license and acquire additional equipment.

Excel Vocational Training Center currently enrols 8,301 students pursuing diplomas and certificates in various vocational courses.

Hajj Shafik Mwanje, the Director of the centre, emphasized the importance of vocational training in addressing youth unemployment and expressed gratitude for the government’s support.