Although the house had planned to administer oaths for 132 legislator's on the first day of the exercise, two of the elected members did not turn up. They include Kinkizi West MP Dr Chris Baryomunsi and Kabarole Woman MP Victoria Rusoke Businge who sought permission to skip the activities due to other engagements.
Parliament
has administered oaths to 131 members-elect of the eleventh parliament on the
first day of the four-day-long ceremonies.
Although the house had planned to administer oaths
for 132 legislator's on the first day of the exercise, two of the
elected members did not turn up. They include Kinkizi West MP Dr Chris
Baryomunsi and Kabarole Woman MP Victoria Rusoke Businge who sought
permission to skip the activities due to other engagements.
However,
Parliament also accepted a request to bring forward the oaths for
Nakawa West MP Joel Ssenyonnyi. Ssenyonyi is scheduled to travel out of the country on official duties, assigned by the National Unity Platform. Ssenyonyi was initially expected to take oath on Thursday, May 20, 2021.
Of the 131 MPs sworn-in
on the first day, two are representatives of Older Persons in Parliament, a
constituency newly created by the 10th Parliament among the Special
Interest Groups. They include Catherine Akumu Mavenjina for Northern Uganda
and Peninah Busingye Kabingani for Central Uganda. The others were two representatives of the workers, two representatives of Persons with Disabilities and
two representatives of the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF), while the rest were Women and directly elected members.
Each of them took the Oath of Allegiance and the Oath of Member of
Parliament, a constitutional requirement before they officially start their five-year term of office. Upon taking the oaths, the MPs were handed instruments of power,
including the Uganda Constitution and the Parliament Rules of Procedure.
The Mbarara City Woman MP, Rita Atukwasa, said
that the eleventh parliament should ensure the promotion of democracy and more
financial support for agriculture initiatives.
Soroti East Division MP, Moses Attan on the other hand promised to speak out for health and education services in the country.
//Cue in; “live with poverty…
Cue out…the worst hospital.”//
Dr Charles Ayume, the Koboko Municipality MP
said that parliament needs to address unemployment, especially among the youth
by putting in place laws that create job opportunities.
Ronald Balimwezo Nsubuga, the Nakawa East MP
said that parliament needs to put focus on the promotion of human rights and health.
Joyce Bagala, the Mityana Woman MP also said
that health is going to be one of her areas of focus in the eleventh
parliament.
//Cue in; “what I will…
Cue out…the media fraternity.”//
Henry Bagiire, the Bunya County MP said parliament
needs to prioritize infrastructure development.
The swearing-in process continues on Tuesday
and some of the notable MPs scheduled to be sworn in are Kamuli Woman MP
Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, UPDF representative Peter Elwelu, Buyanja County MP
Matia Kasaija, Bugweri County MP Abdu Katuntu and others. At the end of the four days, parliament will welcome the highest number of legislators having moved from 426 in the tenth Parliament to 529 after the recent polls.
