Uganda: Members of Parliament complete first three day training seminar since the inauguration of the 11th Parliament in May 2021

Members of Parliament have finished the first three-day training seminar since the 11th Parliament was sworn in in May 2021.

On behalf of Speaker Anita Among, the Minister for General Duties, Hon. Justine Kasule Lumumba, formally closed the induction seminar, which began on June 15, 2022 and ended on June 17, 2022 at Imperial Royale Hotel.

The training event is part of an initiative to increase the quality of MPs’ production as well as their general efficiency and effectiveness.

Lumumba, speaking on behalf of the Speaker, thanked the MPs on completing the program and encouraged them to put their newfound knowledge to good use as legislators.

“I expect you to become better legislators and recast our legislative priorities to address real issues that affect our people by engaging in an orderly, professional, and objective approach to the consideration of matters that shall come before us in the House,” Among said in her message delivered by Hon. Lumumba.

As a presiding officer, Among is optimistic that this training program would increase MPs’ efficiency, dependability, and effectiveness in dealing with parliamentary business.

“We are confident that the 11th Parliament will have better and more informed legislative processes, as well as enhanced individual and collective performance,” she said.

MPs were instructed on parliamentary procedures and practices, ethics, integrity, and conflict of interest in the legislature, management of personal funds, and public speaking, among other things, over the course of the three-day conference.

The seminar, according to the Clerk to Parliament, Hon. Adolf Mwesige, is only the first of many that Parliament plans to hold for MPs in the near future. MPs should utilize their positions to influence and engage their communities into income-generating enterprises to improve their livelihoods, according to a former MP and minister with over 25 years of experience in parliamentary business.

“The role of a parliamentarian, particularly in a developing nation like Uganda, entails not just mastering parliamentary procedures and customs, but also mobilizing constituents for improved household incomes and community development in general,” he explained.

He urged MPs to maintain high levels of self-discipline and financial awareness, as well as avoid situations that may jeopardize their social position.

Rt Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, Prime Minister of Uganda, has appealed for MPs’ collective cooperation in the successful execution of the Parish Development Model, the government’s ‘last mile’ strategy to move over 10 million Ugandans from subsistence to money economies.

“Poverty must be addressed, and household incomes must be increased. When people’s livelihoods improve, the pressure on MPs to accommodate voter demands decreases. As a result, we have no alternative but to use the media and other outlets to inform the public about the essential relevance of this game changer. Let us all support PDM as MPs, regardless of our party affiliations “Nabbanja remarked.

Dr. Peter Kimbowa, a financial and business consultant, had earlier captivated the MPs’ undivided attention when he spoke to them on personal finance management, a gray area where many have fallen short. Many MPs participate in “financial sins,” according to Dr. Kimbowa, leaving them financially disadvantaged.

Being overconfident with money, submitting to peer pressure, investing in liabilities rather than assets, having a heavy debt burden, and having many idle assets are just a few of the financial sins.

“As MPs, you must seek for new sources of revenue to assist your constituency’s operational tasks.” Salary isn’t a reliable source of income. Also, don’t keep assets you don’t need. “You’ll have a lot of assets, but you’ll be cash poor,” Kimbowa said.

He cautioned them against overspending and borrowing.

He challenged MPs and the general public to instill a saving culture, claiming that Ugandans save just around 6% of their income, a fraction that is far too low when compared to neighboring East African countries such as Tanzania and Kenya, which save approximately 14% and 20% of their income, respectively.

The APO Group distributed this document on behalf of the Ugandan Parliament.