Parliament has amended its rules of procedure to provide for election of the four backbench commissioners dropping the current system of selection by parties.
The House Committee on Rules, Privileges and Discipline, which reviewed the current rules and provided suggested amendments, said this would “give MPs greater control over the election of commissioners, reducing the influence of political parties in the selection process.”
The chairperson of the committee, Abdu Katuntu, said that MPs should be able to choose their representatives instead of having them appointed by party leaders.
“When we put this process, it’s for the members to have a say in choosing their representative backbenchers, since the Executive is ably catered for,” he said.
These amendments were considered and approved during the plenary session on Tuesday, February 18, 2025.
Currently, the backbench commissioners are appointed based on a ratio of three to one, with three positions allocated to the ruling party and one to the opposition.
The new rules introduce a structured process for electing commissioners.
Under the changes, the government side will nominate six candidates, while the opposition will nominate three – all of whom will be presented to Parliament for the vote.
The changes sparked debate, with some MPs arguing they could be unfair.
The Leader of the Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi suggested allowing both sides to nominate more candidates instead of being restricted to six.
“Let the government side and the opposition side do the same because when you say that all must be voted, it disenfranchises the side that these people are seeking to represent,” he argued.
He also proposed that each side elects its own representatives instead of the entire House voting on them.
Kampala Central MP, Mohammed Nsereko said if Parliament was talking about the commission, let everyone present their credentials to be selected to the commission since the MPs represent the people.
Butambala MP Muwanga Kivumbi also questioned the assumption that Parliament’s majority will always be stable.
“We could get a hung Parliament, where literally the difference between the government side and the opposition is too slim, or even if it is fifty-fifty, where will you get the numbers of six?” he said.
The Deputy Attorney General, Jackson Kafuzi defended the changes, arguing that the rules ensure that the majority side gets more representation.
“The rules together with the law provide for the bigger number to take more numbers of the commission and for the simple reason of budgeting and welfare,” he said.
