Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I The massive investment they have put in campaigns may be in vain after the Government directed that public servants are not eligible to contest in the ongoing Local Council elections unless they have lawfully vacated public office.
The directive, issued by the Minister of Local Government, Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi, serves as a reminder that teachers, health workers, administrative staff, agricultural extension workers and all other public officers must first resign from public service before seeking election to Local Council I and Local Council II positions.
The ministry said it had received reports that several public officers employed by local governments had expressed interest in contesting or were already participating in the ongoing administrative unit elections while continuing to serve in government.
In a statement, Barugahara emphasized that public officers are required by law to remain politically neutral while performing their official duties and are prohibited from engaging in partisan political activities.
“The Ministry wishes to remind all Public Officers, Electoral Commission officials, District Election Administrators, Returning Officers, Local Government leaders and the general public that Public Officers are required to maintain political neutrality in the discharge of their official duties and are prohibited from engaging in partisan political activities,” the minister said.
He explained that contesting for political office under Uganda’s multiparty political system amounts to participation in partisan politics because candidates are expected to articulate political agendas or belong to political parties.
According to the minister, Article 176 of the Constitution establishes local governments as units of government, meaning that anyone employed within a local government is a public officer under the Constitution and the Public Service Standing Orders, 2021.
Barugahara further cited Section 129(5) of the Local Governments Act, Cap. 138, which requires any public officer intending to contest for a Local Council position to resign from public office at least 30 days before nomination in accordance with the procedures governing their employment.
The law applies to public officers, employees of government departments and agencies, employees of local councils and workers employed by bodies in which the government has a controlling interest.
The minister said the legal requirement is intended to safeguard the integrity and impartiality of the public service by preventing serving public officers from participating in partisan political activities while still holding government positions.
He urged all public servants to respect the law and uphold the professionalism expected of the public service.
“Public officers play a vital role in delivering essential services to the people of Uganda and must remain nonpartisan while in office,” Barugahara said.
The ministry also pledged to work closely with the Electoral Commission, the Ministry of Public Service, the Public Service Commission, District Service Commissions, Chief Administrative Officers and other relevant authorities to ensure full compliance with the law throughout the electoral process.
The warning comes as campaigns and preparations for the Local Council I and II elections intensify across the country, with many aspiring candidates seeking grassroots leadership positions.
Barugahara reminded all stakeholders involved in organizing the elections to strictly enforce the legal provisions governing eligibility for public officers seeking elective office.
He also called upon eligible voters to participate peacefully in the elections and exercise their constitutional right to elect leaders of their choice.
“The Ministry further calls upon all eligible voters to turn up in large numbers, vote peacefully, and exercise their constitutional right to choose their leaders,” he said.
The latest directive is expected to guide electoral officials, local government administrators and aspiring candidates on the legal requirements governing participation in the ongoing administrative unit elections while reinforcing the principle of political neutrality within Uganda’s public service.
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