If you are to give marks out of ten, how would you rank the performance of journalists-turned MPs in the 11th Parliament?
The 11th Parliament has five journalists: Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda of Kira Municipality who cut his teeth at Daily Monitor and later, The Observer.
Also in the mix is Kazibwe Bashir, the Kawempe South MP who formerly worked with Vision Group, Next Media also headed the Uganda Journalists Association (UJA). Add Joel Ssenyonyi, the Nakawa West MP and leader of opposition, who worked at UBC and later, NTV.
There is Agnes Nandutu, the Bududa Woman MP and minister of state for Karamoja who worked at NTV where she hosted a popular talks how dubbed: People’s Parliament. And lastly, Joyce Bagala, the Mityana Woman MP who worked for Radio One and later Next Media as news manager.
For starters, journalists in Uganda and world over, privately, tend to be some of the most opinionated people given their vantage position of closely interacting with newsmakers.
Yet when many are put under the spotlight or are cast into the limelight, they freeze like a deer caught in the headlights.
The Ratings
These ratings are based solely on their performance in Parliament. They are not based on their contributions in their constituencies. So here we go!
Ssemujju gets 9 out of 10 for being one of the most outspoken legislators in Parliament. His submissions, although sometimes dramatic, tend to be well researched. He will put government officials to task at every turn, and like a rabid journalist, can be unrelenting in his inquisitions. He is also fearless, and some would add, reckless, which is a brave thing in a country where majority of people have chosen to keep quiet in the face of mounting injustices.
Ssenyonyi gets a 7 out of 10. He is not a finished article yet but as a first termer you can say he has made a mark. His stewardship of COSASE, one of the most critical committees in Parliament was eye-catching. And his contributions on the floor of Parliament have regularly been significant. Remember his exchange with Speaker Anita Among over the tabling of the report on Uganda Airlines? Little wonder that he is now Leader of the Opposition.
Bagala gets a 4.5 out of 10. When she served as shadow minister for Information, Bagala could have done better given her excellent communication skills. But she often went silent on the floor of Parliament when the country demanded for answers. She is yet to display the kind of assertiveness expected of someone of her calibre and exposure. If this rating was based on her activities outside of Parliament, Bagala would have scored higher. But it is not. We believe she still has room for improvement.
Nandutu gets a flat 3 out of 10. Where is the Nandutu of the Point Blank and People’s Parliament fame? Where is the Nandutu, the journalists who used to put MPs on edge with her quirky questions? To be honest she has been a major disappointment. May be she has been shackled by her ministerial appointment which does not allow her to speak freely on many issues. To make matters worse, her implication in the Mabaati saga, soiled her reputation. She needs a combination of Jik and Omo, to return to her former perch.
Kazibwe gets a 1 out of 10. And this is not based on his woes in his constituency. His presence has not been felt at all. He irregularly attends House proceedings and when he does, he hardly utters a word. What happened to the Kazibwe of Bukedde FM? Of NBS TV? It appears as if going to Parliament was an end in itself. Kazibwe has so much work to do to redeem his image. That is if it is redeemable.
