Ex-MPs elect Dora Byamukama to lead parliamentary alumni body
PAU, which was formed seven years ago, is an umbrella body that brings together all former Members of Parliament (MPs) who have served Uganda since the First Parliament.
Ex-MPs elect Dora Byamukama to lead parliamentary alumni body
_________________
Former Mwenge South MP Dora Byamukama has been elected chairperson of the Association of Parliamentary Alumni of Uganda (PAU).
She was elected during the association's fifth annual general meeting (AGM), held on July 11, 2026.
PAU, which was formed seven years ago, is an umbrella body that brings together all former Members of Parliament (MPs) who have served Uganda since the First Parliament.
The association initially had 1,114 members, although the number had fallen to about 900 by the time of the previous AGM in June last year due to the deaths of some members.
To secure the position, Byamukama defeated Perez Ahabwe, a former local government state minister and former board chairperson of the revamped Uganda Airlines.
Byamukama, who also represented Uganda in the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), garnered 39 votes against Ahabwe's 31. She succeeds former Kanungu Woman MP Jackline Kyatuheire, who has led the association since its inception.
Members' welfare
While campaigning, Byamukama, an advocate with two law degrees, pledged to prioritise members' welfare.
She promised to safeguard the sh10 million burial contribution for each member, which her predecessor successfully lobbied Parliament to provide, and to pursue the sh100 million ex gratia payment, commonly referred to as Akasiimo, which President Yoweri Museveni reportedly pledged to former MPs about a decade ago during an awards ceremony at Serena International Hotel in Kampala but has yet to materialise.
"I also have served on the outgoing council representing western region. All my colleagues on the council know the kind of dedication and results-oriented person I am. I am very hard-working; even the brochure you have in front of you, I finished working on it at 1:00 am last night. So, I will go a long way to ensure that PAU succeeds," Byamukama promised.
"On the Akasiimo let us pray and trust we shall do all that it takes with you to ensure that it becomes a reality…" she added.
Although the outgoing leadership said the money was in the pipeline, Ahabwe said during his campaign that the responsibility for pursuing the funds had been left to only a few people.
Former MPs react
The delayed payment has begun to frustrate some former lawmakers.
Former Agago North MP John Amos Okot said receiving the money would depend on how members pursued the matter.
"However much we cry or talk about it, it is at the mercy of the President…My senior who just sat down said you should know what you can give or threatening to give even though you don’t have it. It's like lottery. If you don’t play it well, we shall be talking about it, write about it, then at the end we shall fail to get what we want…" Okot argued.
He nevertheless urged members to explore other ways of improving their livelihoods.
"When we ceased being sitting MPs in May, a few of us, about 80 or 90 members, came together and formed a company, PARLIA ECO POWER VENTURES, to serve two purposes. One, we focused on health insurance, where members contributed Shs10 million each. This can cover us for about two years, including up to five dependants that each member can register. Over the two-year period, about 10 people can benefit," Okot explained.
"Secondly, we came up with a contribution for investment of sh20m. The door is open. About 50 or 60 members have already made their contributions," he added.