KAMPALA, UGANDA – The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) parliamentary caucus has endorsed a proposal to create four new districts and a city, a plan that will expand the number of legislators in Uganda’s Parliament.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The decision, reached during a caucus meeting at State House Entebbe on September 12, 2025, involves the subdivision of Tororo and Bundibugyo districts.
Government Chief Whip Hamson Denis Obua revealed the resolution to journalists at Parliament, stating that the caucus agreed to support the creation of Mukuju District, Mulanda District, Kisoko District, and Tororo City from the current Tororo District in the 2025-2026 financial year, subject to the law.
The caucus also backed the creation of Bughendera District out of the existing Bundibugyo District for the same period, with plans to handle the creation of other administrative units in the period from 2026 to 2031.
The announcement followed a presentation by the Minister for Local Government, Raphael Magyezi, who confirmed that approximately UGX 26 billion in taxpayer funds will be spent on operationalizing the new administrative units.
Minister Magyezi urged Ugandans to view the cost as an investment in bringing services closer to the people rather than a burden, defending the move by stating its advantages in addressing the needs of a growing population and rapid urbanization.
Minister Magyezi also addressed the electoral implications of the creation of new districts, noting that the Attorney General, Kiryowa Kiwanuka, and the Electoral Commission will determine when elections for the new constituencies will be held once Parliament approves the government’s plan.
He referenced the Local Government Act, which stipulates that a district created after a general election shall take effect six months prior to the next election, meaning the new entities could be deemed to have been created in July 2025 ahead of the January 2026 general elections.
He further cited the Electoral Commission Act, which provides that if a district is created after electoral processes have begun, it will become an electoral district in subsequent elections, but clarified that this legal provision does not prevent its creation.
The minister confirmed that the creation of the new districts and city will inevitably increase the number of Members of Parliament beyond the current 500.
The subdivision of Tororo means the three new districts will each have a woman representative, Tororo City will have a city woman representative, and its two divisions will have two additional members of parliament, significantly expanding parliamentary representation from the region.
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