Africa-Press – Uganda. Member of Parliament–elect for Older Persons in the Eastern Region, Ofwono Opondo, has raised concerns over the preparedness of incoming legislators, warning that inadequate orientation and weak internal structures could undermine the effectiveness of debate in the 12th Parliament.
Speaking during NBS Frontline on Thursday, Opondo noted that many aspiring and newly elected Members of Parliament underestimate the pressures associated with legislative work until they assume office. He further argued that the current orientation framework is insufficient to equip legislators with the knowledge and skills required to effectively represent their constituents.
“Two weeks is no sufficient for orientation for MPs in my opinion. There is no sufficient distilling of issues in the NRM caucus because of the structure of the caucus. If you have 300 MPs sitting once a month, how much depth can you give them?” he said.
Opondo further faulted the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) for not adequately preparing its legislators to manage constituent
expectations and legislative responsibilities.
“If you want to become a leader, you have a baseline. Even if your party hasn’t trained you well, we shall hold you responsible for your behaviour,” he said.
Opondo’s remarks were echoed by former People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) aspirant for Bugabula South, Proscovia Salaaamu Musumba, who criticized the current composition of Parliament, accusing legislators of prioritizing personal interests over national service.
“What we have in Parliament right now is a pack of merchants who aren’t interested in serving the nation,” Musumba said, alleging that many MPs use Parliament as a refuge from accountability and a platform for personal enrichment.
“The larger majority of the stock of Parliament are running away from previous situations that would have landed them in jail. Parliament is like a cleanser used to thrive and earn more money,” she added.
Adding to the discussion, former Aruu County Member of Parliament, Odonga Otto, cautioned against youthful entry into parliamentary politics, describing it as a high-risk undertaking.
“I wouldn’t advise anyone below 27 years to join Parliament. Where is Hon. Alengot who came to Parliament at 19 years? I think it’s very risky business,” Otto said before warning against the increasing trend of what he described as transactional politics, where individuals join Parliament with expectations of financial gain.
“If you join Parliament because you think there is money, you’ve made the worst mistake of your life,” he added.
The debate comes as Uganda prepares for the 12th Parliament, which will comprise 556 Members of Parliament, including representatives of special interest groups, and is expected to fully take shape in May 2026.
The House will be dominated by the NRM with 370 legislators, followed by 60 independents, 49 members from the National Unity Platform (NUP), 12 from the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), 10 from the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), six from the Democratic Party (DP), two from the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), and one from the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT).
The size of Parliament has sparked renewed public debate over its sustainability, with critics questioning whether Uganda’s economy can support more than 550 legislators and whether all positions are necessary for effective representation.
Concerns have also been raised about the quality of debate and legislative output, particularly as nearly 80 percent of the incoming MPs are new to Parliament.
Analysts warn that the influx of inexperienced legislators could result in weak scrutiny of government policies, shallow debate, and compromised lawmaking if not addressed through strong institutional guidance and mentorship.
They emphasize that without deliberate efforts to strengthen capacity and reinforce accountability, the 12th Parliament risks falling short of its constitutional mandate of effective representation, oversight, and legislation.
