The Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, is set to officially join the 12th Parliament as one of the 10 representatives of the army.
The Army Council convened today at Bombo Barracks to elect its representatives to Parliament. The meeting, chaired by President Museveni, was still ongoing by the time we went to press.
Yet even without any formal announcement, it is clear that Muhoozi will be in the House because, historically, all CDFs have been army representatives.
In the outgoing 10th Parliament, UPDF had 10 male MPs and three females. Three of the male MPs (Gen Katumba Wamala, Gen David Muhoozi, and Gen Wilson Mbadi) were all CDFs.
UPDF representatives in Parliament have full powers of an ordinary MP; however, many of them opt not to actively participate in debates on the floor.
In this respect, Muhoozi is likely to follow the same script. However, his presence in the House is likely to be deeply scrutinized in the same way Janet Kataha Museveni was in 2006.
Also, Muhoozi enters Parliament at a time when some of the vocal and critical opposition MPs, such as Ssemujju Nganda, Asuman Basalirwa, and Medard Sseggona, will not be in the House following their defeat. These would have given him a hard time.
UPDF MPs in the 11th Parliament
Male Representatives
Gen. David Muhoozi – Minister of State for Internal Affairs.
Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala – Minister of Works and Transport.
Gen. Wilson Mbasu Mbadi – Minister of State for Trade.
Gen. (Rtd) Peter Elwelu – Former Deputy Chief of Defence Forces.
Gen. James Mugira – Managing Director of National Enterprise Corporation (NEC).
Maj. Gen. Henry Matsiko – Chief Political Commissar.
Maj. Gen. Sam Kavuma – Chairperson of the UPDF Wazalendo SACCO.
Female Representatives
Brig. Gen. Charity Bainababo – Deputy Commander of the Special Forces Command (SFC).
Col. Dr. Victoria Nekesa – Senior military officer and medical doctor.
Lt. Col. Dr. Jennifer Alanyo – Military physician.
