Clerk to Parliament, Mr Adolf Mwesige says he is waiting for opposition parties to submit their nominees to the Appointments Committee of the 12th Parliament, as pressure builds to vet President Museveni’s new Cabinet.
The committee’s composition is urgently needed because, by law, all presidential ministerial nominees must be vetted by Parliament before assuming office.
Addressing MPs, Mwesige stressed that Parliament’s work is driven through committees, a system introduced under the 1995 Constitution to strengthen scrutiny, oversight, and accountability.
‘Most of the work of Parliament is processed through committees,’ he said. ‘Committees scrutinize legislation, review Auditor General’s reports, and conduct oversight before presenting recommendations to the plenary for consideration.’
Under Uganda’s multiparty system, membership to sectoral and standing committees is allocated by party whips based on each party’s strength in the House. Parties are now expected to submit lists of MPs for committee assignments, and the process is already underway.
Mwesige said the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) has submitted its nominees for the influential Appointments Committee, but other parties have not yet done so.
‘I’m informed that the NRM political organisation has already submitted its list for membership to the Appointments Committee, and we are waiting for other political parties also to submit their proposals,’ he told MPs.
The Appointments Committee is chaired by the Speaker and deputized by the Deputy Speaker. Members include the Prime Minister and Leader of Government Business, the Leader of Opposition, the Government Chief Whip, and the Opposition Whip. It comprises between 20 and 40 members drawn from all political parties and independents, based on their numerical strength in Parliament.
With 528 MPs in the 12th Parliament, the NRM holds 372 seats, about 70 percent of the House. The National Unity Platform has 49 seats, UPC 12, FDC nine, DP six, PFF two, and ANT one. There are also 68 independent MPs and 10 representatives of the UPDF.
Independent MPs are not nominated by party whips. Mwesige explained they must apply directly to the Clerk’s office, indicating the committees they wish to join. Their names are then forwarded to the Speaker for assignment based on interest and qualifications. Independents make up nearly 12 percent of the House, making them a significant bloc in committee representation.
Mwesige reminded MPs that the Appointments Committee operates differently from other committees. Its proceedings are held in camera, closed to the public and to non-members. Unlike sectoral committees, where any MP can attend as an observer, access is restricted strictly to members.
The committee also exercises delegated constitutional authority and does not report back to the plenary after vetting presidential nominees.
‘Once the Appointments Committee has considered the presidential appointments and approved them, it does not have to report to the plenary. Their decision is final,’ he said.
That means the committee’s decision effectively determines whether nominees join Cabinet.
Beyond the immediate vetting, Mwesige urged MPs to study the Rules of Procedure and choose committees that match their expertise and interests. The 12th Parliament will operate through sectoral committees renewed each session and standing committees that handle broader oversight, including accountability work through the Public Accounts Committee and its divisions.
With committee formation now underway, Parliament’s internal organization is taking shape ahead of the presentation of President Museveni’s Cabinet and the start of substantive legislative business.
When contacted, NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya did not pick or return calls on the party’s progress in designating members to committees, including the Leader of Opposition and Opposition Chief Whip.