Joseph Kiiza Kabuleta, the leader of the National Economic Empowerment Dialogue (NEED) party, has expressed his concern over the poor quality of debate by Ugandan MPs, stating that there is insufficient research done on issues that affect ordinary Ugandans. In particular, he believes that topics such as poverty, agriculture, health, education, road infrastructure, energy, oil, and security are poorly debated.
According to Kabuleta, ministers for Karamoja Affairs and the finance ministry should have conducted enough research to compel the Government to address issues of hunger, drought, poverty, and the health sector before planning to buy iron sheets that were allegedly stolen through corruption. He made these remarks during a press conference in Kampala after the opening of the new party head offices at Plot 299/6A Mugwanya Road in Rubaga division.
Kabuleta revealed that he has twice traveled across the country since the 2021 vote to find out the issues affecting the locals that have never been discussed on the floor of Parliament. He expressed disappointment that legislators seem to focus on issues that are not of immediate importance to the people. He pointed out that legislators should be able to tell what Uganda gets in gold, marble, and diamond in Karenga district, yet locals are suffering without food, drought, poverty, and shelter. According to him, such matters have never been treated with the urgency they deserve.
He also stated that even the limited time given to legislators during plenary sessions cannot be enough to deliberate any serious issue without concrete research to convince the Government to change its position on key issues. He believes that MPs need to be informed about issues affecting tourism, investment, economy, security, agriculture, poverty, and other sectors with relevant substance on matters of national importance.
Parliament Watch fact sheet 2021 shows that Uganda has 556 MPs, which Kabuleta believes is too many to represent poor constituencies compared to other countries that are geographically bigger than Uganda. Bukoto Central MP Richard Sebamala said the time to deliberate on issues in the House is limited because of many MPs, adding that it also comes down to individual competence.
Sebamala added that many MPs never visit their constituencies, but Uganda’s problems have always been known to ordinary voters. Corruption and red-tape bureaucracies in President Museveni’s government cannot make it possible for quick service delivery to happen. However, legislators who do ample, timely research table Bills in Parliament, discuss in committees of Parliament, and make recommendations to relevant ministries and departments.
Sebamala suggested that the Government should hire and pay research assistants for each legislator to support evidence-based and informed decision making. In developed democracies such as the US, legislators are given offices that are well-staffed with research assistants that are paid by the government in power.
The opening of the NEED offices was attended by Uganda Peoples’ Congress party lawyer Michael Osinde, Ecological Party president Charles Bbale, and Peoples’ Front for Transition Activist and Democratic Party member Lubega Mukaku. The key functions of Parliament are legislation, oversight, and representation.
