Strict dress code in Parliament: What’s of necessity to citizens?

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OPINION

By Patrick Katagata Jr

In a quest for adherence to a formal dress code of Members of Parliamentary Committee on Rules, Privileges and Discipline’s Chairman, recently proffered strict proposals, to ban the donning of certain apparel during Parliamentary business within its chambers and Committee meetings.

Our military camouflage combat uniform was ditched for its battlefield undertone—or rather subtly, that it is intimidating!

Also affected are kanzus, kaunda suits, and busuuti [gomesi]—the blind-spot of which being that they signify traditional culture, repugnant with (Commonwealth) parliamentary dress code, where members clad in formal suits. The only acceptable wear for male legislators, therefore, shall be: a suit, shirt, and neck tie—and something similar for women. By implication, the western female busuuti, and the Karamajong Nyathukok and Nyemarinda for men and women respectively, too, were affected, but colonial wigs spared!

Certainly, indecency among public figures is abhorred—more so, for legislators. Decent dress—and demeanour depict decorum and make, in this case, MPs attractive to the eye, commanding confidence and respect, and—inviting attention.

In communication, especially—verbal, to which parliamentary debate, by virtue of its connotation with ‘parlement’ (old French) denoting ‘speaking,’ from ‘parler’— ‘to talk’, MPs’ physical presentation ought to be elegant, assuring of, and/or congruent with great debating.

To this effect, the ancient Greek philosopher, Aristotle, posited that “Physical beauty is greater recommendation than any letter of introduction.” But while the aforesaid proposals took to the floor of Parliament, and queried in the corridors thereof, my mind painfully wondered about our perceived or real lack of the Pan-African spirit—how we perpetually glorify everything foreign, disfavouring almost everything African!

It reminded me of one female Ugandan minister, who once baffled university dons, wondering why they endured sweating rather profusely in colonial suits under Uganda’s tropical sun-heat! She quipped, but deliberately that redeeming Uganda’s education, necessitated first redeeming their minds from ‘black-boxed’ colonial models! Of course, they loathed her ‘brutal insensitivity’, but her point was, nonetheless, made!

Also, given the misgivings—of course, with some exceptions, relating, inter-alia, to the: questionable functionality; credibility; and quality of representatives and debate, etc., might strict adherence to formal foreign dress code, purge the already dented image of, especially the current (11^th) Parliament? I will recount two experiences to elucidate my puzzle: first, a businessman in Pioneer Mall Building (Kampala) trading in men’s suits and accessories, who having, initially, mistaken me for an MP, swore never to sell his garments to MPs, again. Why? He recounted an experience with one western Uganda vocal male MP who caused him loss by taking two of his suits on credit, but dishonourably defaulted!

Despite ringing this MP severally, he neither took nor returned the unanswered calls. He completely never responded to reminder messages. This man held a deeply crappy impression about MPs! No persuasion to any exceptions could help! The second is about a short song video clip that went viral on social media, by young learners in one of Buganda’s schools, dubbed: “Ab’amasuuti mutuswazizza”, agonised that “people who wear suits had disappointed them!”

They decried how, contrary, to common enduring advice urging youngsters to study hard in order to become responsible suit-donning adult citizens, some adults otherwise expected of the honour and inspiration suit-wearing bestows, and although seemingly honourable, walking majestically therein, they have grossly betrayed and defiled such honour, becoming the worst plunderers Uganda will ever know! Functionality or suits, what is better for Uganda? Besides, smart as they might look, have all MPs paid up for their suits?

The writer is a prospective MP - Buhweju County (2026-2031)