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In a move poised at safeguarding their legacies, former lawmakers have echoed the need for a repository.

The proposal was mooted during an Association of Parliamentary Alumni of Uganda (PAU) symposium on Friday May 3, 2024.

The legally incorporated umbrella brings together 1,142 registered and eligible lawmakers who served between the first and tenth Parliament. The latter was chaired by incumbent First Deputy Premier and Minister for East Africa Community (EAC) Affairs Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga.

Hope Ruhindi Mwesigye former Women MP Kabale, and another former member of the Parliamentary Alumni Association of former MPs in a one day symposium on governance challenges in Uganda, the state of affairs in Parliament today and welfare of MPs after Parliament. This was at Imperial Royale Hotel on May 3, 2024. (Credit: Maria Wamala)

Jack Crissy Sabiiti former MP Rukiga and Dora Byamukama former EALA MP during a one day Parliamentary Alumni Association of former MPs symposium on governance challenges in Uganda, the state of affairs in Parliament today and welfare of MPs after Parliament. This was at Imperial Royale Hotel on May 3, 2024. (Credit: Maria Wamala)

The development comes on the heels of embarrassing encounters where eminent lawmakers have been treated in a disregarding manner.

Speaking on Friday, former EAC deputy secretary general Beatrice Kiraso expressed fear that without records, their contributions risk being erased from history.      

Members of the Parliamentary Alumni Association of former MPs in one day symposium on governance challenges in Uganda, the state of affairs in parliament today and welfare of MPs after parliament. This was at Imperial Royale Hotel on May 3, 2024. (Credit: Maria Wamala)

“I was in Kabale for a burial about two weeks ago. I was introduced by my son-in-law very proudly, the older people clapped. I even met some people there who were not MPs but they had been in leadership, they clapped,” Kiraso disclosed.  

She however, accused some current MPs of lacking etiquette: “When we went to lunch, the current MPs, I will not mention their names, I did not actually catch their names because the way they behaved was a bit unbecoming. So, somebody was struggling to say this is Hon. Kiraso, okay how are you and this MP just went. This is not something we would do, at least we had basic courtesy and etiquette".

Kiraso, who is also a former Kabarole District Woman MP, said during Labour Day celebrations at St. Leo’s Kyegobe Secondary School, former Burahya county MP Col (rtd) Steven Basaliza was not introduced.

“The members that were introduced were those that are sitting on the central executive committee. The current MPs had their space but here, you are, you are an elder, in a constituency which you represented. Nobody seems to actually know that you are there,” she said.  

Jack Crissy Sabiiti former MP Rukiga and Dora Byamukama former EALA MP during a one day Parliamentary Alumni Association of former MPs symposium on governance challenges in Uganda, the state of affairs in parliament today and welfare of MPs after parliament. This was at Imperial Royale Hotel on May 3, 2024. (Credit: Maria Wamala)

According to Basaliza, this injustice was perpetrated by a clique. However, he pointed out that this is a wakeup call for documentation, lest future generations will have no institutional memory to rely on.  

“So, together as we go, let us leave our contacts and emails. I didn’t see an email at registration, which is the most important thing of late,” Basaliza retorted.

Jack Crissy Sabiiti former MP Rukiga and Dora Byamukama former EALA MP during a one day Parliamentary Alumni Association of former MPs symposium on governance challenges in Uganda, the state of affairs in parliament today and welfare of MPs after parliament. This was at Imperial Royale Hotel on May 3, 2024. (Credit: Maria Wamala)

Florence Mutyabule former Woman MP, Namutumba District and Mariam Nalubega former Woman MPs Butambala District interact during the Parliamentary Alumni Association of former MPs one day symposium on governance challenges in Uganda, the state of affairs in parliament today and welfare of MPs after parliament. This was at Imperial Royale Hotel on May 3, 2024. (Credit: Maria Wamala)

Form think tanks

Instead of imposing themselves on the population, former Minister for the Presidency and Kampala Affairs Kabakumba Masiko implored colleagues to create visibility by forming a think tank.

“For every topical topic, those here under PAU, organise either a symposium or conference on researched material. We shall call our media people and present ourselves. Has anybody stopped you from talking, I don’t think so,” she said.

Narrating an incident that recently transpired in Eastern Uganda, Kabakumba said no one is interested in recognising former lawmakers.

“We were in Katakwi as visionary women. You should have seen the SFC [Special Forces Command personnel] go there. They were taking us I don’t know to which tent of commoners, along the way they put us where the MPs were supposed to be. And the MPs were not there, we filled the tent. So you can imagine,” she revealed.    

Present at the function was former Ruhaama MP and Inspector General of Government Augustine Ruzindana, former lands minister Daniel Omara Atubo, Dorah Byamukama, Raphael Bitamazire, Anthony Butere, Col. (rtd) Alfred Omony, former Rubaga South MP Ken Lukyamuzi, Yorokamu Katwiremu, John Arimpa Kigyaagyi and former Attorney General Fred Ruhindi.

Others were Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) President Patrick Oboi Amuriat alias POA, former Rukiga county MP Jack Sabiiti, former Hoima District Woman MP Beatrice Nyakaisiki and Elijah Muhindo, among others.