HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I So much pomp is surrounding the swearing-in ceremony for Members of the 12th Parliament of Uganda which is taking place from Wednesday, May 13, to Friday, May 15, 2026, at the Parliament Building in Kampala. The proceedings are designed to be orderly, with strict protocols in place to manage the large number of incoming legislators, according to reports from Parliament.
The three-day constitutional exercise officially kicked off on Wednesday morning, ushering in a new chapter for Uganda’s legislature following the January 15, 2026 general elections.
Hundreds of lawmakers-elect, accompanied by family members, supporters and political associates, arrived at Parliament amid heightened security as they prepared to take the Oath of Allegiance and the Oath of Member of Parliament before the Clerk to Parliament, Adolf Kasaija Mwesige.
The ceremony, being held at the Parliament parking lot in Kampala, marks the formal beginning of the 12th Parliament’s five-year mandate running from 2026 to 2031.
Under the detailed programme issued earlier by the Clerk to Parliament, MPs are being sworn in strictly in alphabetical order by surname to ensure smooth coordination and avoid disruptions.
Wednesday’s proceedings began at exactly 8:00 a.m. with Abim District Woman MP-elect Aayoo Joyce Makamoe taking oath, while the morning session was scheduled to conclude with Babirye Milly Babalanda.
The afternoon sitting resumed at 2:00 p.m. with Babula Noel Kataike Matilda and was expected to close with Kanaabi Jimmy.
Day two of the exercise will commence with Kangwagye Stephen Rwakanuma and proceed through to Nambeshe John Baptist, while the final day on Friday will begin with Nambooze Teddy before concluding with Zawedde Victorious.
Parliament officials described the swearing-in as a carefully choreographed constitutional process intended to maintain order and uphold the dignity of the House.
“Notice is hereby given that the Clerk to Parliament will, on 13th, 14th and 15th May 2026 at Parliament House, administer the Oath of Allegiance and the Oath of Member of Parliament to each person elected as a Member of Parliament in accordance with the following Schedule,” the official notice issued by the Clerk states.
The daily sessions are running from 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., followed by a short break before proceedings resume from 2:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m.
Security around Parliament has been significantly tightened, with only accredited guests and invited officials being granted access to the venue.
Each MP-elect is permitted to enter with a maximum of three guests, while legislators with disabilities are allowed one additional aide to assist them during the ceremony.
Security personnel stationed at various entry points were instructed to deny access to unauthorised persons in order to prevent overcrowding and ensure smooth movement within the precincts.
Ahead of the ceremony, all MPs-elect were required to collect invitation cards, biodata forms and the official programme from the Clerk’s office earlier this month. The completed biodata forms are being submitted on the respective day each legislator takes oath.
After taking the oath, every MP receives a copy of the Constitution and the Rules of Procedure, documents considered essential in guiding legislators during their five-year tenure.
The ceremony is also being conducted under standard public health guidelines, with attendees encouraged to sanitise their hands and observe hygiene measures throughout the proceedings.
The swearing-in exercise comes at a critical transition period as the outgoing 11th Parliament concludes its business, including the expected passage of the 2026/2027 national budget before the House formally dissolves.
The constitutional requirement for swearing-in is anchored in Article 81(4) of the 1995 Constitution of Uganda, which provides that every elected Member of Parliament must take and subscribe to both the Oath of Allegiance and the Oath of Member of Parliament before participating in parliamentary business.
The oaths commit legislators to defend the Constitution, faithfully serve the people of Uganda and discharge their legislative responsibilities with integrity.
The incoming Parliament is expected to comprise both experienced lawmakers returning to the House and a fresh generation of legislators entering Parliament for the first time.
Political observers say the transition could shape the direction of national debate over the next five years as Parliament undertakes its core functions of legislation, oversight and representation.
Once all members are sworn in, the House will proceed to elect the Speaker and Deputy Speaker before committees are constituted and parliamentary business formally begins.
The transition follows general elections that returned President Yoweri Museveni for another term while also ushering several new voices into the country’s legislative arm.
Parliament’s Director of Communication and Public Affairs, Chris Obore, urged all MPs-elect to strictly observe the timetable and comply with the established procedures.
The elaborate arrangements, visible security presence and ceremonial atmosphere surrounding the swearing-in underline the significance of the occasion in Uganda’s democratic and constitutional order.
For many first-time legislators, the day represented both a personal milestone and the beginning of the demanding task of shaping national policy and representing the aspirations of millions of Ugandans in the country’s highest legislative chamber.
