The Parliamentary Commission, established under Article 87A of the Constitution, has been fully constituted with the endorsement of the Leader of the Opposition and four backbench Commissioners. Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi assumes the role of the Leader of the Opposition, succeeding Hon. Mathias Mpuuga.
Mpuuga will now serve as a backbench Commissioner of the House representing the Opposition, alongside Hon. Solomon Silwany, Hon. Prossy Akampurira, and Hon. Esther Afoyochan, who maintained their positions as backbench Commissioners representing the ruling National Resistance Movement Party.
Speaker Anita Among made the announcements during the plenary sitting on Tuesday, 09 January 2024, following the formal presentation of the names of the office bearers by both the Government Chief Whip, Hon. Hamson Obua, and the Chief Opposition Whip, Hon. John Baptist Nambeshe.
Section 2 (2) of the Administration of Parliament Act stipulates the composition of the Commission, the highest decision-making organ of the Legislature, to include: Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Leader of Government Business, Leader of the Opposition, the Minister responsible for Finance, and four Commissioners (Backbench Members of Parliament).
The Clerk to Parliament serves as the Secretary to the Commission, with responsibilities that encompass exercising disciplinary control over staff and making recommendations on the allowances payable and privileges available to the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and Members of Parliament, among other duties.
Among also declared that Hon. Abdu Katuntu (Indep., Bugweri County) would succeed Hon. Eric Musana (Indep., Buyaga East County) as a representative of independents at the Pan African Parliament. Hon. Elijah Okupa (Indep., Kasilo County) has assumed a position as a member of the board of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA).
During the sitting, new leadership and membership of different Standing Committees of Parliament were constituted, with Hon. Medard Sseggona replacing Ssenyonyi as the Chairperson of the Committee on Public Accounts (Commissions, Statutory Authorities, and State Enterprises – COSASE).
