The eleventh Parliament has come to limelight through what has been termed as the “Uganda Parliament Exhibition” by a section of social media influencers on Twitter led by Dr Spire Sentongo and Agather Atuhaire.
Whereas these are exercising their constitutional rights, and whereas indeed Parliament is a public institution, their campaign should be intended to demand accountability and not mudslinging anybody for political reasons.
Certainly most of the allegations being made are baseless with no evidence and are intended to tarnish the institutions image and especially the presiding officers. They are simply riding on the citizens ignorance of facts and negative sentiments!
This however does not take away Parliament duty to investigate if there could be some genuine concerns here or there. Even if there were any genuine concerns, this would be normal just like a healthy person could suffer some simple flue or cough, it doesn’t mean the person is going to die the next day!
So whatever genuine issues that could have been raised during the said exhibition, can be treated as simple flu but with the overall institution working and performing its core mandate.
There is no doubt that the eleventh Parliament has made remarkable achievements that directly impact on the ordinary Ugandans. But because some Ugandans don’t follow Parliament and the Public Relations Department of Parliament hasn’t done enough in informing the public of what Parliament is doing, some negative Ugandans are taking advantage of this to feed the public with lies and propaganda.
Therefore looking at some of the few milestones made by eleventh Parliament;
It’s the eleventh Parliament that canceled the fraudulent Vinci coffee agreement that was going to see eleven million farmers’coffee future sacrificed in one person’s hands in the name of Pinneti. Such a resolution is passed by a people centred Parliament!
It’s the eleventh Parliament that passed the Local Content law to enable Ugandan youths compete for jobs in all foreign companies operating here. Previously a Chinese would come here with his own drivers, engineers etc and would take all the money back home. With the Local Content law, that will be history. Such is a law is passed by a people centred Parliament!
Eleventh Parliament passed the Petroleum Supply Amendment Act 2023 that seeks to remove middle men in the fuel business so that Uganda can deal directly with suppliers hence reducing the fuel prices, such law is made by a people centred Parliament!
Eleventh Parliament through the Deputy Speaker spearheaded the bid to negotiate for Uganda’s hosting of AFCON 2027 which will promote sports. This was in addition to the Sports Bill 2022. Such decisions are passed by a people centred Parliament!
Eleventh Parliament passed the Judicature Bill 2023 which led to recruitment of more judges and creation of more High Court Circuits like Kiboga, Ibanda, Ntungamo, Kasese, Apac, Bugiri, Dokolo, Entebbe, Kitgum, Lugazi, Kumi, Rakai, Nebbi, Pallisa, Wakiso etc. This will reduce case backlog and enhance delivery of Justice. This is only done by a People Centred Parliament!
I can go on and on..
Whoever claims that Parliament of Uganda has not done its job is doing so out of hate malice or ignorance! If there are any errors, they are so minimal compared to the achievements done, in any case there is no body or institution in the world that is 100 percent perfect. If the eleventh Parliament has scored 80 percent, it’s still a distinction and an excellent performance!
The author is a governance expert!
