Augustino Wudu, Chairperson of South Sudan Union of Persons with Disabilities speaking to Eye Radio on Monday 25th Sept 2023. (Photo: Charles Wote).

Some persons with special needs are calling on President Kiir to return the recently passed National Election Act to the parliament for amendment to include their two percent legislative representation allegedly mingled in the bill.

On Monday, September 18, the national parliament passed a disputed National Election Act 2012, Amendment Bill 2023 which increased the number of lawmakers from 250-332 and agreed that 5% of them shall be appointed by the president-elect.

According to the Act, 50 percent of the national legislators shall be elected through the geographical constituencies while 35 percent of seats are to be filled by women.

Meanwhile, the national parliament apparently inserted the two percent representation of people with special needs into the youth percentage totaling 15 percent.

Some articles in the bill were opposed by the SPLM-IO parliamentary caucus including a civil society activist in Jonglei State, who said the 5 percent will affect a democratic exercise in the country.

Speaking to Eye Radio on, some persons with disabilities said they are concerned with the decision of the national legislature to remove the two percent portion that was proposed by the National Constitution Amendment Committee.

Augustino Wudu, the Chairperson of the South Sudan Union of Persons with Disabilities, said those who may secure the seats in the national parliament may not represent the will of the persons with disabilities.

“We are very much concerned about the act of course previously, 2% was allocated for persons with disabilities but we are taken by surprise by the recent decision that was taken by the Assembly to give that percentage back to the President to be included in the party list,” Wudu said.

“So, we are very much worried because we feel that it may not focus on those who are involved in the issues of persons with disabilities.”

On his part, Mandela Isaac Eric, who represents persons with disabilities at the National Constitution Amendment Committee, said he is surprised why the Parliament could not allocate them a percentage.

“We were shocked when we heard that the 2% has been taken away. It was combined back as it was before to be 15% party list.”

“According to our discussion at the NCAC level, we said these persons with disabilities come from their areas and their names should be indicated clearly in the ballot papers and everybody will vote for them so that when they speak.”

“They speak with authority as people who have been given authority by South Sudanese to serve South Sudanese.”

Responding to their concern, the Chairperson of the Specialized Committee on Information at the reconstituted TNLA, argued that those with disabilities shall come from different categories.

Hon. John Agany said some of them shall be elected under the 50% geographical constituencies, while others shall come from the 35% women quota.

He adds that some persons with disabilities will also be considered from the 15% party list as well as from the 5% that shall be appointed by the President-elect.

“I think they really don’t understand, the problem was not scraping it out they were to be given more numbers than what they get. The 2% is very minimal, it is very small so the house decided that they must be inclusive in 50%.”

“They must also be inclusive in 35%, and they must also be inclusive in 15% that is lacing it open so you cannot possibly say that if you are given more than ten and you will say two are better, what argument is that?”

According to John Agany, the currently revitalized transitional legislative Assembly contains about eight MPs who represent persons with disabilities.