To change certain important parts of the Constitution, the government needs more than just a vote in Parliament. A proposed change must first be approved by at least two-thirds of all Members of Parliament at both the second and third readings. Then, at least two-thirds of the district council members in at least two-thirds of Uganda's districts must also ratify it. This rule protects the specific parts listed in the law, such as those dealing with land and local government. It means that any major change to these sensitive areas requires broad agreement from both national lawmakers and local communities across the country.

it is supported at the second and third readings in Parliament by not less than two-thirds of all members of Parliament; and

it has been ratified by at least two-thirds of the members of the district council in each of at least two-thirds of all the districts of Uganda.

A bill for an Act of Parliament seeking to amend any of the provisions specified in <span class="underline-gradient ref" data-tippy-content data-ref="261:2">clause (2)</span> of this Article shall not be taken as passed unless—

<span class="underline-gradient ref" data-tippy-content data-ref="261">this Article</span>;

Chapter Two—<span class="underline-gradient ref" data-tippy-content data-ref="5:2">Article 5(2)</span>;

Chapter Nine—<span class="underline-gradient ref" data-tippy-content data-ref="152">Article 152</span>;

Chapter Eleven—Articles <span class="underline-gradient ref" data-tippy-content data-ref="176:1">176(1)</span>, <span class="underline-gradient ref" data-tippy-content data-ref="178">178</span>, <span class="underline-gradient ref" data-tippy-content data-ref="189">189</span> and <span class="underline-gradient ref" data-tippy-content data-ref="197">197</span>.

The provisions referred to in <span class="underline-gradient ref" data-tippy-content data-ref="261:1">clause (1)</span> of this Article are—

Article 261 requires two-thirds parliamentary and district council approval for amending specific constitutional provisions.

Article 261: When district councils must approve law changes

Amendments requiring approval by district councils

<div style='font-weight:600; margin-bottom:12px; padding-bottom:6px'>Taxation</div><div style='margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:6px;'><strong>1</strong> No tax shall be imposed except under the authority of an Act of Parliament.<div style='margin-left:16px; margin-top:6px; margin-bottom:4px;'></div><div style='margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:6px;'><strong>2</strong> Where a law enacted under clause (1) of this Article confers powers on any person or authority to waive or vary a tax imposed by that law, that person or authority shall report to Parliament periodically on the exercise of those powers, as shall be determined by law.<div style='margin-left:16px; margin-top:6px; margin-bottom:4px;'></div><div style='margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:6px;'><strong>3</strong> Parliament shall make laws to establish tax tribunals for the purposes of settling tax disputes.<div style='margin-left:16px; margin-top:6px; margin-bottom:4px;'></div></div>

Article 152

<div><strong>1</strong> Subject to Article 178, the system of local government in Uganda shall be based on the district as a unit under which there shall be such local governments and administrative units as Parliament may by law provide.</div>

Article 176 Clause 1

<div style='font-weight:600; margin-bottom:12px; padding-bottom:6px'>Regional governments</div><div style='margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:6px;'><strong>1</strong> Two or more districts may cooperate to form a regional government to perform the functions and services specified in the Fifth Schedule to this Constitution.<div style='margin-left:16px; margin-top:6px; margin-bottom:4px;'></div><div style='margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:6px;'><strong>2</strong> A district shall not be taken to have agreed to enter into a cooperation arrangement to form a regional government unless—<div style='margin-left:16px; margin-top:6px; margin-bottom:4px;'><div style='margin-bottom:6px;'><strong>(a)</strong> the proposal to join the regional government has been approved by resolution of the district council by a majority of two-thirds of the members of the district council; and</div><div style='margin-bottom:6px;'><strong>(b)</strong> the decision of the district council has been ratified by not less than two-thirds of the subcounty councils in the district.</div></div><div style='margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:6px;'><strong>3</strong> Subject to clause (1) and to the provisions of this Constitution, the districts of the regions of Buganda, Bunyoro, Busoga, Acholi and Lango, specified in the First Schedule to this Constitution, shall be deemed to have agreed to form regional governments for the purposes of this Article.<div style='margin-left:16px; margin-top:6px; margin-bottom:4px;'></div><div style='margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:6px;'><strong>4</strong> The headquarters of the regional governments deemed to have been established in clause (3) of this Article shall be as follows—<div style='margin-left:16px; margin-top:6px; margin-bottom:4px;'><div style='margin-bottom:6px;'><strong>(a)</strong> in Buganda, Mengo Municipality which shall be created by Parliament;</div><div style='margin-bottom:6px;'><strong>(b)</strong> in Bunyoro, Hoima Municipality which shall be created by Parliament;</div><div style='margin-bottom:6px;'><strong>(c)</strong> in Busoga, Jinja Municipality;</div><div style='margin-bottom:6px;'><strong>(d)</strong> in Acholi, Gulu Municipality; and</div><div style='margin-bottom:6px;'><strong>(e)</strong> in Lango, Lira Municipality.</div></div><div style='margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:6px;'><strong>5</strong> The districts forming the regional government shall form a regional assembly.<div style='margin-left:16px; margin-top:6px; margin-bottom:4px;'></div><div style='margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:6px;'><strong>6</strong> A regional government shall be a body corporate with power to sue and be sued and shall have power to do all things that may be done by a body corporate and shall be subject to all obligations to which a body corporate is subject.<div style='margin-left:16px; margin-top:6px; margin-bottom:4px;'></div><div style='margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:6px;'><strong>7</strong> Notwithstanding Article 180, a regional government formed under this Article shall be the highest political authority within its region and shall have political, legislative, executive, administrative and cultural functions in the region.<div style='margin-left:16px; margin-top:6px; margin-bottom:4px;'></div><div style='margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:6px;'><strong>8</strong> A regional government shall in particular have in relation to the region, the functions and services conferred upon a regional government in the Fifth Schedule to this Constitution and may make laws which shall have the force of law in the region.<div style='margin-left:16px; margin-top:6px; margin-bottom:4px;'></div><div style='margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:6px;'><strong>9</strong> A regional assembly shall have power to legislate on matters within its jurisdiction.<div style='margin-left:16px; margin-top:6px; margin-bottom:4px;'></div><div style='margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:6px;'><strong>10</strong> Subject to this Article and to the Fifth Schedule to this Constitution, the executive and administrative powers of a regional government shall extend to the execution and implementation of the laws enacted by the regional assembly and other laws operating in the region and the management of the affairs of the regional government.<div style='margin-left:16px; margin-top:6px; margin-bottom:4px;'></div><div style='margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:6px;'><strong>11</strong> The laws made by the regional assembly shall be in conformity with this Constitution and the national laws shall be consistent with national policies.<div style='margin-left:16px; margin-top:6px; margin-bottom:4px;'></div><div style='margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:6px;'><strong>12</strong> The provisions of the Fifth Schedule to this Constitution shall have effect in respect of the matters specified in it in relation to regional governments.<div style='margin-left:16px; margin-top:6px; margin-bottom:4px;'></div><div style='margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:6px;'><strong>13</strong> Regional governments shall commence on the first day of July, 2006.<div style='margin-left:16px; margin-top:6px; margin-bottom:4px;'></div></div>

Article 178

<div style='font-weight:600; margin-bottom:12px; padding-bottom:6px'>Functions of the Government and district councils</div><div style='margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:6px;'><strong>1</strong> Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the functions and services specified in the Sixth Schedule to this Constitution shall be the responsibility of the Government.<div style='margin-left:16px; margin-top:6px; margin-bottom:4px;'></div><div style='margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:6px;'><strong>2</strong> District councils and the councils of lower local government units may, on request by them, be allowed to exercise the functions and services specified in the Sixth Schedule to this Constitution or if delegated to them by the Government or by Parliament by law.<div style='margin-left:16px; margin-top:6px; margin-bottom:4px;'></div><div style='margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:6px;'><strong>3</strong> District councils shall have responsibility for any functions and services not specified in the Sixth Schedule to this Constitution.<div style='margin-left:16px; margin-top:6px; margin-bottom:4px;'></div><div style='margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:6px;'><strong>4</strong> Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the Government may, on request by a district council, assume responsibility for functions and services assigned to the district council.<div style='margin-left:16px; margin-top:6px; margin-bottom:4px;'></div><div style='margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:6px;'><strong>5</strong> This Article shall have effect without prejudice to the functions and services authorised or required to be performed by a regional government under this Constitution.<div style='margin-left:16px; margin-top:6px; margin-bottom:4px;'></div></div>

Article 189

<div style='font-weight:600; margin-bottom:12px; padding-bottom:6px'>Financial autonomy of urban authorities</div><div style='margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:6px;'><strong></strong> Urban authorities shall have autonomy over their financial and planning matters in relation to the district councils as Parliament may, by law, provide.<div style='margin-left:16px; margin-top:6px; margin-bottom:4px;'></div></div>

Article 197

<div style='font-weight:600; margin-bottom:12px; padding-bottom:6px'>Amendments requiring approval by district councils</div><div style='margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:6px;'><strong>1</strong> A bill for an Act of Parliament seeking to amend any of the provisions specified in clause (2) of this Article shall not be taken as passed unless—<div style='margin-left:16px; margin-top:6px; margin-bottom:4px;'><div style='margin-bottom:6px;'><strong>(a)</strong> it is supported at the second and third readings in Parliament by not less than two-thirds of all members of Parliament; and</div><div style='margin-bottom:6px;'><strong>(b)</strong> it has been ratified by at least two-thirds of the members of the district council in each of at least two-thirds of all the districts of Uganda.</div></div><div style='margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:6px;'><strong>2</strong> The provisions referred to in clause (1) of this Article are—<div style='margin-left:16px; margin-top:6px; margin-bottom:4px;'><div style='margin-bottom:6px;'><strong>(a)</strong> this Article;</div><div style='margin-bottom:6px;'><strong>(b)</strong> Chapter Two—Article 5(2);</div><div style='margin-bottom:6px;'><strong>(c)</strong> Chapter Nine—Article 152;</div><div style='margin-bottom:6px;'><strong>(d)</strong> Chapter Eleven—Articles 176(1), 178, 189 and 197.</div></div></div>

Article 261

<div><strong>1</strong> A bill for an Act of Parliament seeking to amend any of the provisions specified in clause (2) of this Article shall not be taken as passed unless—</div><div style='margin-left:16px; margin-top:8px; margin-bottom:6px;'><strong>(a)</strong> it is supported at the second and third readings in Parliament by not less than two-thirds of all members of Parliament; and</div><div style='margin-left:16px; margin-top:8px; margin-bottom:6px;'><strong>(b)</strong> it has been ratified by at least two-thirds of the members of the district council in each of at least two-thirds of all the districts of Uganda.</div>

Article 261 Clause 1

<div><strong>2</strong> The provisions referred to in clause (1) of this Article are—</div><div style='margin-left:16px; margin-top:8px; margin-bottom:6px;'><strong>(a)</strong> this Article;</div><div style='margin-left:16px; margin-top:8px; margin-bottom:6px;'><strong>(b)</strong> Chapter Two—Article 5(2);</div><div style='margin-left:16px; margin-top:8px; margin-bottom:6px;'><strong>(c)</strong> Chapter Nine—Article 152;</div><div style='margin-left:16px; margin-top:8px; margin-bottom:6px;'><strong>(d)</strong> Chapter Eleven—Articles 176(1), 178, 189 and 197.</div>

Article 261 Clause 2

<div><strong>2</strong> Subject to Article 178 of this Constitution, Uganda shall consist of—</div><div style='margin-left:16px; margin-top:8px; margin-bottom:6px;'><strong>(a)</strong> regions administered by regional governments when districts have agreed to form regions as provided for in this Constitution;</div><div style='margin-left:16px; margin-top:8px; margin-bottom:6px;'><strong>(b)</strong> Kampala; and</div><div style='margin-left:16px; margin-top:8px; margin-bottom:6px;'><strong>(c)</strong> the districts of Uganda,&lt;/br&gt;&lt;/br&gt;
as specified in the First Schedule to this Constitution, and such other districts as may be established in accordance with this Constitution or any other law.</div>

Article 261: When district councils must approve law changes

261.Amendments requiring approval by district councils

Summary