Administration of oaths underway for new members of parliament

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The administration of oath for members-elect of the eleventh parliament has kicked off this morning at the Parliamentary buildings in Kampala. The process, scheduled to end on Thursday, May 20, will see parliament welcome the highest number of legislators having moved from 426 to 529 in recent polls.

Every person elected to parliament takes the Oath of Allegiance and the Oath of Member of Parliament, before they officially start their five-year term of office. The ceremony, which is following the alphabetical order of names of each legislator, will see 132 members take oath today, according to a programme issued by Parliament’s Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Helen Kawesa.

At least 65 MPs have taken oath in the morning session, out of the scheduled 66. MP Prossy Akampurira Mbabazi, the Rubanda Woman MP did not turn up. Ababiku Jesca, the Adjumani Woman MP opened the swearing-in process.

The other elected MPs who have already taken oath are Lira City Woman MP Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, Kitgum Woman MP Lillian Aber, Pian County MP Achia Remigio, Soroti Woman MP Adeke Anna Ebaju, Busiki County MP Paul Akamba, Gulu City Woman MP Betty Aol Ocan, and Asiimwe Florence Akiiki, the newly elected Masindi Woman MP, among others. 

After taking an oath, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng pledged to transform her constituency saying that most of the areas in the Northern region are still far behind in regard to the education and other services. She adds that people in the Northern region also need economic empowerment since this is one of the areas in Uganda that has been disadvantaged even before the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Lillian Aber says she is going to now embark on mobilizing and engaging her constituents in Kitgum District to make sure that they increase on Agricultural production. 

Cuthbert Abigaba Mirembe, the Kibale County MP says that he is going to embark on accomplishing some of the projects that he lobbied for his constituents in his previous term citing electrification, bridges and others.

Sarah Opendi Achieng, the Tororo Woman MP says she expects a vibrant 11th parliament that will focus more on service delivery and ensuring that all Ugandans are served equally. She adds that the 11th parliament should also, ensure that necessary legislation in the health and mineral sector are made.

“We are in a multi-party dispensation. I expect us to be more tolerant and understanding and ensure that whatever we do is for the good of the people of Uganda that elected us,” says Opendi.

Joan Alobo Acom, the Soroti City Woman MP said that she expects to coordinate and work together with MPs from different political parties for the good of the country. All incoming legislators were strictly required to be in the company of three people and keep masks on due to the existing COVIDd-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) envisaged containing the spread of Coronavirus.

The afternoon session is scheduled to start at 2:00 pm.

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