In pictures: Swearing-in of 12th Parliament MPs

 ________________

The 12th Parliament of Uganda has started today, May 13, 2026, with the swearing-in of new legislators in the sequence of alphabetical order, starting with surnames.

It is composed of 529 Members of Parliament (MPs), who will take the oath in three days running from today to May 15 at the Parliament Building in Kampala.

The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party, which has so far led Uganda uninterrupted for 40 years, again commands dominance in the new Parliament with 372 lawmakers (70.3%), followed distantly by Independents (68) and the National Unity Platform (NUP, 49).

Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has nine MPs, while the two oldest political parties, the Uganda People’s Congress (12) and the Democratic Party, have 12 and six legislators, respectively.

The newly formed People’s Front for Freedom party has two MPs, and the Alliance for National Transformation only one.

NUP, which was formed in July 2020, is again the largest opposition party, a position that was previously held by FDC for 15 years since 2006, when the first multi-party elections in 20 years were held.

Today, 87 MPs-elect are scheduled to take the oath of allegiance and the oath of MP, which are provided for in Article 81 (4) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda. They take the oath in the sequence of alphabetical order.

These include the Woman MPs-elect Joyce Aayoo (Abim, Independent), Jesca Ababiku (Adjumani NRM), Lilian Aber (Kitgum, NRM), Jane Ruth Aceng (Lira City, NRM), Sandra Achieng (Kole, NRM) and Cathy Achia (Kaabong, NRM).

After swearing-in, each MP-elect, who is required to be accompanied by three people only, is provided with the Constitution and the Rules of Procedure. 
However, each MP-elect with disabilities is granted one additional person as an aide.
The two oaths are administered by the Clerk to Parliament, Adolf Mwesige.

Gen. Jeje Odongo taking an oath as the MP for Orungo County in Amuria District.

Large tents have been erected for MPs to sit in as they wait to be called to the parking space's podium to take the oath.

Commercial banks and money lenders always pitch camp at MPs’ swearing-in ceremonies but in 2021, they were not in sight.

The MPs-elect started collecting their invitation cards, programme booklets and biodata forms from Mwesige’s office on May 4, 2026. This is the 12th Parliament of Uganda since the country attained independence in October 1962.

Article 81(4) of the Constitution says: Every person elected to Parliament shall take and subscribe the oath of allegiance and the oath of a member of Parliament specified in the Fourth Schedule to this Constitution.

By the time of writing this story, the ceremony had already kicked off with a mixture of entertainment and fashion. Traditional dancers from various parts of the country performed. 

Soroti city MP Joan Acom Alobo

Aine Godfrey Kaguta aka Sodo has been sworn in as Member of Parliament for Mawogola North County,

Speaker of Parliament Anita Among has been sworn in as Bukedea District Woman MP.

Patrick Isiagi is the Member of Parliament for Kachumbala County.

Minister of Health, Jane Ruth Aceng taking the oath of office as the Woman Member of Parliament for Lira City.

Anne Adeke Ebaju has been sworn in as the Woman Member of Parliament for Soroti District.

Davinia Esther Anyakun, Uganda’s Minister of State for Gender, Labour and Social Development, has been sworn in as Nakapiripirit District Woman MP.

Betty Aol Ocan has been sworn in as Gulu City. Woman MP.

Vice President Jessica Rose Epel Alupo sworn in as Katakwi District Woman MP.

Janet Hope Anyango takes her oath as Woman MP for Busia District.

Minister for Presidency, Milly Babalanda taking the oath.

The ICT and national guidance minister Chris Baryomunsi his oath.