Parliament has successfully completed the allocation of its standing and sectoral committees alongside designating legislators to key regional and international bodies.
The extensive structural deployment lays the mandatory administrative groundwork for the 12th Parliament to fully commence its constitutional lawmaking, oversight, and representative functions for the 2026–2031 term.
The designations and institutional elections were concluded during a plenary sitting chaired by Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa.
The high-profile accountability committees saw significant opposition appointments, with Hon. Patrick Oshabe Nsamba designated to head the influential Public Accounts Committee (Central Government).
Hon. Nsamba will be deputized by Hon. Sarah Lwansasula, while former Attorney General Hon. Fred Ruhindi will chair the Committee on Rules, Privileges, and Discipline, assisted by Hon. Abdu Swaibu Kampanya.
The critical Budget Committee will be led by Hon. Amos Kankunda, while Hon. Jane Avur Pacuto takes the steering wheel at the Committee on National Economy.
Additional standing committee appointments saw Hon. Catherine Lamwaka take charge of the Equal Opportunities Committee, and Hon. Francis Zaake assume leadership of the Government Assurance and Implementation Committee.
Hon. Muwada Nkunyingi will lead the high-stakes Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities, and State Enterprises (COSASE), while Hon. Betty Bakireke Nambooze retains her oversight footprint as head of the Public Accounts Committee (Local Government).
To tighten regulatory checks, Parliament designated Hon. Jennifer Mujungu to lead the newly established Committee on Subsidiary Legislation to scrutinize statutory instruments and delegated state legislation.
The House also assigned seasoned leaders to head the sectoral committees that directly supervise government ministries and executive agencies.
Former Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Hon. Amelia Kyambadde, will chair the Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries Committee.
Hon. Boniface Okot will lead the Tourism, Trade, and Industry Committee, Hon. Julius Rude Monday takes over the Health Committee, and Hon. Cuthbert Abigaba will lead the Education and Sports Committee alongside Hon. Emmanuel Ongierthor.
Concurrently, the House elected four Backbench Commissioners to serve on the influential Parliamentary Commission, which manages the strategic administration and financial direction of the house.
The newly elected commissioners are Hon. Susan Jolly Abeja (Otuke District), Hon. Faith Nakut (Napak District), Hon. Jessica Ababiku (Adjumani District), and Hon. John Baptist Nambeshe (Manjiya County).
The house similarly approved delegations to global legislative bodies.
The team representing Uganda at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) includes Hon. Emely Kugonza, Hon. Bernard Otim, Hon. Naome Kabasharira, Hon. Fortunate Rose Nantongo, and Hon. Silas Aogon.
Hon. Muhamad Kibedi Nsegumire, Hon. Hassan Kirumira, and Hon. Sharifah Taban Aate will represent the country at the Organization of East African Cooperation.
The deployment to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) features Hon. Juliet Achayo, Hon. Nathan Byanyima, Hon. Norah Bigirwa, Hon. Elma Kapel Challa, Hon. Brenda Nabukenya, and Hon. Evelyn Ninsiima.
Furthermore, Hon. Sylvia Nayebale will chair the Parliament Pension Board, deputized by Hon. Abubaker Kawalya, while Hon. Fredrick Angura joins the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
The Pan African Parliament deployment will comprise MPs Sarah Najjuma, Arinaitwe Rwakajara, Anthony Akol, David Kalwanga, and Patience Nkunda.
Deputy Speaker Tayebwa urged the new commissioners to remain highly vigilant and maintain active engagement with ordinary legislators to ensure their concerns reach the commission.
“We have agreed that we are going to strengthen the Commission to the way it should be in the law,” Tayebwa stated.
The complete formation of the committee system unlocks immediate state evaluations, enabling lawmakers to process pending bills, examine financial reports from ministries, and carry out mandatory field oversight visits.
