Writer: Kakwenza Rukirabashaija. PHOTO/FILE
Uganda’s Parliament has in the recent past been a theatre of political satire theatre. The ugliest manifestation is the hyper-partisan conduct of Speakers of Parliament, who are expected to be impartial referees of national debates.
The 1995 Constitution, as amended, prescribes in Article 82(7) that the Speaker and Deputy Speaker “shall be impartial and shall not be subject to the direction or control of any person or authority.” But we have had a partisan Speaker who openly shouted Waragi-like speeches: “Museveni oyee!”, “NRM oyee!” on the campaign arena, and then unashamedly chaired the impeachment of her political opponents like a magpie on the Executive’s whims.
We must explore the Constitution to become a legal carrier for the current trajectory and rescue Parliament from Executive capture. The Constitution must be amended to require Speakers to relinquish their political party memberships upon election to that office.
Our nation must not be held hostage by Speakers who don yellow-coloured party regalia, act as mouthpieces of their parties, and do the bidding of their Executive sponsors.
A non-partisan Speaker will ensure fair debate, uphold the independence of Parliament, and protect the rights of all Members of Parliament, regardless of their political affiliations. Uganda needs a Speaker who serves the Constitution—not a political party.
It is time to create legal conditions for Speakers whose office illegalises the trappings of political partiality, who are neutral in speech, dress, affiliation, and most importantly, decision-making. This will also reduce undue Executive influence over Parliament.
Currently, the Speaker holds an influential role in setting the legislative agenda, determining which issues receive priority, and managing the overall flow of parliamentary business. When this role is occupied by a partisan figure, the entire process becomes biased and undermines the core principles of representative democracy.
Article 82, in its current form, is unfit for purpose. It must be revised to safeguard the integrity of Uganda’s legislative process. The amendment should explicitly state that upon election, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker must relinquish all party affiliations, resign from their political parties, and serve as independent arbiters of parliamentary debates.
The UK House of Commons offers an instructive example. There, once elected, the Speaker resigns from their political party and runs for re-election as “Speaker seeking re-election,” enjoying broad support across the aisle. This model fosters greater impartiality and reinforces the Speaker’s role as a guardian of parliamentary resources, and parliamentary votes nationwide to remove Speakers who use their office to advance partisan interests.
Uganda deserves a Speaker who sees the entire Parliament as their constituency, not one who reduces the Speaker’s entire universe to across-the-aisle hostilities.
This reform is not just about political hygiene; it’s about protecting democracy. It ensures that the voices of all Ugandans, regardless of political affiliation, are heard and respected. It is about restoring public confidence in Parliament and insulating it from becoming a cheerleading chorus for State House.
A truly impartial referee is better than a Speaker who only performs better as a partisan goal-keeper. If Parliament is to be respected as an independent arm, and not just a tool for Executive overreach, we must act.
Other countries have taken this bold step, and it is time for Uganda to follow suit. We need a Speaker who serves the people, not a party; who upholds the Constitution, not Executive directives; and who embodies the integrity, fairness, and independence that the office demands.
This is the kind of institutional courage Uganda needs today.
The writer, Kakwenza Rukirabashaija, is a multi-award-winning novelist and Public International Law scholar
info@kakwenza.
