The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | URN | The formal transition to 12th Parliament began on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, as 184 newly elected Members of Parliament took their oaths of office in a structured, alphabetical ceremony at Parliament House.
Clerk to Parliament Adolf Mwesige Kasaija, supported by 21 clerk assistants, administered the oaths, marking the first step in constituting the new legislative body following the January 2026 general elections.
“We have come to the end of day one of #MPsSwearIn2026 with 184 Members of Parliament taking their oath administered by the Clerk to Parliament and his team,” a statement from the Clerk’s office captured the day’s progress.
Under Article 81(4) of the 1995 Constitution of Uganda (as amended), every person elected to Parliament must take and subscribe to the Oath of Allegiance and the Oath of Member of Parliament, as set out in the Fourth Schedule. These oaths commit legislators to faithful service and upholding the Constitution.
Article 81(5) explicitly bars any elected member from sitting or voting in Parliament until the oaths are taken. Parliament’s Rules of Procedure (Rule 3) further reinforce this, empowering the Clerk to administer the oaths before the first sitting.
The three-day schedule (May 13–15) ensures an orderly process for the full complement of legislators, approximately 559 seats, comprising 353 constituency MPs, 146 district women representatives, and 30 representatives from special interest groups (UPDF, youth, workers, persons with disabilities, and older persons).
“This multi-day format, used in previous parliaments, allows for family attendance, cultural displays, and media coverage while maintaining procedural efficiency,” Lucy Akello, said Amuru District Woman Representative, who was re-elected for the third time under the Forum for Democratic Change – FDC party
The swearing-in follows President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s re-election and the National Resistance Movement’s (NRM) strong performance, securing a significant majority (around 359 seats). Opposition parties, including the National Unity Platform (NUP) with approximately 56 seats, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), UPC, DP, and independents, will provide checks and balances in the new House.
High-profile figures are expected across the three days, setting the stage for the election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, followed by committee formations to tackle key national priorities such as budget oversight, wealth creation, service delivery, and legislative reforms. The process underpins Uganda’s commitment to constitutional democracy, even amid debates over the size of Parliament and calls for greater efficiency in representation.
Day One’s completion of 184 oaths represents roughly one-third of the House, demonstrating smooth administrative execution under Clerk Mwesige Kasaija’s leadership. With two more days to go, the full 12th Parliament will soon be operational, ready to address pressing issues including economic transformation, youth employment, infrastructure, and regional stability.
As Anna Adeke Ebaju, the Soroti District Woman Representative noted in similar past ceremonies, “taking the oath is not merely ceremonial but a solemn pledge to serve constituents and the nation. Families and supporters added color and emotion to the proceedings, blending personal milestones with national importance.”
