The formal constitution of Uganda’s 12th Parliament began on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, as 184 newly elected Members of Parliament were sworn in during a structured, alphabetical ceremony at Parliament House in Kampala.
The exercise, which marks the first official step in establishing the new legislative body following the January 2026 general elections, was overseen by Clerk to Parliament Adolf Mwesige Kasaija, assisted by 21 deputy clerks who administered the oaths in line with parliamentary procedure.
By the end of the first day, the Clerk’s office confirmed the milestone, stating: “We have come to the end of day one of #MPsSwearIn2026 with 184 Members of Parliament taking their oath administered by the Clerk to Parliament and his team.”
The swearing-in is anchored in Article 81(4) of the 1995 Constitution of Uganda, which requires all elected MPs to take both the Oath of Allegiance and the Oath of a Member of Parliament before assuming their duties. Until these oaths are taken, Article 81(5) bars any elected representative from sitting or voting in the House. Parliament’s Rules of Procedure further empower the Clerk to conduct the ceremony prior to the first sitting.
The process is being conducted over three days, from May 13 to 15, to accommodate all 559 expected legislators, including constituency representatives, district women MPs, and members representing special interest groups such as the UPDF, youth, workers, persons with disabilities, and older persons.
Amuru District Woman MP Lucy Akello noted that the staggered format also allows space for family participation, cultural expression, and media coverage while ensuring procedural orderliness, a practice used in previous parliamentary inaugurations.
The 12th Parliament follows President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s re-election and a strong showing by the National Resistance Movement (NRM), which secured a dominant share of seats. Opposition parties, including the National Unity Platform (NUP), the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), the Democratic Party (DP), the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), and independents, will form the minority bloc tasked with oversight and accountability in the new House.
Over the coming days, attention will shift to the election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, followed by the formation of parliamentary committees that will handle key national priorities such as budget oversight, service delivery, wealth creation, infrastructure development, and legislative reform.
Officials described Day One as a smooth administrative success, with 184 MPs completing their oaths—roughly one-third of the House—under the coordinated supervision of Clerk Kasaija’s team.
With two more days of swearing-in scheduled, Parliament is expected to become fully operational shortly, ushering in a new legislative term tasked with addressing economic transformation, youth employment, and governance priorities.
