Meet Felix Adupa Ongwech: The Engine Behind Uganda’s Controversial Electoral Reform Proposal

Meet Felix Adupa Ongwech: The Engine Behind Uganda’s Controversial Electoral Reform Proposal

Posted on 23 September 2024 0
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By Our Reporter 

In a significant development, Constitutional Affairs Minister Nobert Mao recently tabled a set of electoral reforms and proposed constitutional amendments before the Ugandan cabinet. Among the key proposals is a recommendation for Members of Parliament (MPs) to elect the president, alongside the introduction of biometric electronic voting.

The idea first surfaced in early January 2023, when a group of National Resistance Movement (NRM) members, calling themselves the Transformer Cadres Association, held a press conference at Kati Kati Restaurant in Kampala. Their proposal to amend the constitution and have the president elected by MPs quickly sparked national debate, dominating conversations across Uganda for nearly a month. While it received mixed reactions, especially from the opposition, several NRM MPs, including Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, expressed support.

Opposition leaders, however, were highly critical. They argued that this move was designed to cement President Yoweri Museveni’s hold on power, undermining Ugandans’ right to directly elect their leader. Despite this, some legal experts, such as Wandera Ogalo, endorsed the proposal, suggesting that a parliamentary system of democracy could ensure a safer transition and succession of power in Uganda. Ogalo further argued that it would reduce the cost of organizing presidential elections and strengthen grassroots political mobilization by making party support in parliament crucial for electing a president.

The mastermind behind this contentious proposal is Felix Adupa Ongwech, an NRM cadre who previously contested for Kiboga county parliamentary seat in Amolatar District in 2021 but lost to FDC’s Hon. Okot Moses Bitek. Adupa, though relatively unknown in Uganda’s political circles, managed to mobilize over 1,000 NRM members who had lost in the party’s 2020 primary elections.

Notably, Adupa is said to have close ties with Kenyan President William Ruto, dating back to Ruto’s tenure as Deputy President of Kenya. Reports suggest that Adupa was frequently involved in organizing Ruto’s visits to Uganda, including hotel bookings for his entourage. It has even been rumoured that Ruto has urged President Museveni to consider Adupa for a cabinet position in 2026.

Justice Minister Nobert Mao has confirmed receiving proposals from Adupa’s Transformer Cadres Association and acknowledged that some of these ideas have shaped the electoral reforms currently under consideration. Mao also indicated that Adupa and his group would be given the opportunity to interact with the Uganda Law Reform Commission and Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee if the proposals are approved.

While the debate continues to unfold, sources within the cabinet suggest that there is considerable support for the proposal to have MPs elect the president.

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