Uganda Parliament Committees barred from crowding tables with food
“Whenever I am eating or going to pick food, I don’t allow a camera on me. That’s why we have also removed this. Tables in the sixth and seventh parliaments used to be decorated with chapati, samosas, among others, but no one was seeing it because there was no social media.”
Uganda Parliament Committees barred from crowding tables with food
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In a move aimed at salvaging its image, Parliament has moved to discourage committees from crowding tables with tea flasks and food during proceedings.
The decision follows repeated public criticism which has painted the institution as being preoccupied with eating rather than attending to pertinent issues afflicting Ugandans.
However, while officiating at the recent induction of lawmakers at Speke Resort Munyonyo on July 4, 2026, Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa clarified that while eating cannot be banned, the practice would be handled more discreetly to avoid negative perceptions.
“Whenever I am eating or going to pick food, I don’t allow a camera on me. That’s why we have also removed this. Tables in the sixth and seventh parliaments used to be decorated with chapati, samosas among others, but no one was seeing it because there was no social media,” the Ruhinda North MP explained.
“But now Ugandans who are hungry when they see you submitting, they are not looking at your submission, but the food and salivating and therefore the debate is going to be about the food on the table. That’s why we have said no, put the food and water in the corner. Let an MP take a short break, pick something to eat and come back and concentrate,” he added.
According to him, the new food management rules are imperative to avoid blowback from the digital mob, which often more than not puts the cart before the horse.
“The scrutiny we are being subjected to; I wish it was subjected to other parliaments people are praising. We are now moving billboards even in our bedrooms; people are able to see. I saw one person on social media showing her house, and then there was a local sponge which we grow in our area (ekyangwe). They shifted from what was doing, and then they said why are you using this ekyangwe,” Tayebwa illustrated.
Baseless propaganda
"Artificial intelligence, which is able to read lips, will soon be able to read Lukhonzo, Rukiga and Lugbara. That’s why you see footballers cover their mouths, and now FIFA has said if you cover your mouth while speaking to someone, they give you a red card. Because they want to read your lips,” he pointed out.
To illustrate his point a little further, Tayebwa cited a recent case where he was accused by Victoria University (VU) Dr Lawrence Muganga’s supporters of blocking his nomination as State Minister for Foreign Affairs on ethnic grounds.
Lawmakers reportedly stayed Muganga’s confirmation on grounds of possessing more than one nationality, which is legally prohibited.
“The vetting of Ministers according to our rules is closed door. But someone comes out and makes wild allegations against you. And you cannot come back to clarify and say, no, we did this. Because the rules say it is closed-door. You find that you are boxed in a corner. Someone said that I hate Banyarwanda and I don’t want Banyarwanda,” he argued.
“But, I mean, if the rules were saying bring a document, this is not an issue of opinion. It is not an issue of Tayebwa’s opinion; it is an issue requiring you to present what you are required to present, and then my hands are tied. You are going to have those kinds of challenges; they are going to come very many, and you will carry the burden of the whole house. They will accuse you of things; sometimes you will keep quiet. Because you know a lot, and if you start talking out, you might end up going way beyond. So, colleagues, I request you to be conscious,” Tayebwa concluded.
MPs react
His comments followed concerns Kazo County’s Dan Atwebembeire Kimosho (NRM) had earlier raised touching on lack of personal etiquette among MPs themselves. Arguing that there is no way such can escape the purview of the media.
“I heard the Deputy Speaker recently that the food that they used to serve in committees is likely to stop. But if it is still there, someone serves a heap, and I am not tampering with your appetite. I am just saying, pick one by one, slowly. If they capture, they capture one. When they capture a heap, it is what goes in the media and makes news. Because we are members of parliament and it’s a fraternity, they say but you people. It is one who has picked five samosas, but it has become a parliamentary issue,” he added.
Cost of snacks
Whereas it was not immediately possible to establish the current cost of refreshments under the existing canteen operator, a call-off order issued to its predecessor, Hellenars Restaurant and Bar Limited, shows that three years ago Parliament was spending sh287,954 on refreshments per committee meeting.
The figure is inclusive of Value Added Tax (VAT) of sh43,925. The document outlines that a flask of black tea at the time cost sh15,254, while that of African tea was priced at sh21,186. On the other hand, a yellow banana was charged at sh424, a 500ml bottle of mineral water at sh1,271, and a pair of vegetable or beef samosas also cost sh1,271. Additionally, a piece of chapati, mandazi, and pancake were each priced at sh847.
Parliament Budget
In the 2026/27 Financial Year (FY), Parliament was allocated a budget of Sh1.23 trillion. Of this, Sh 45.59 billion was allocated for committee affairs.
Deducing from a previous interview, we had with former Erute South MP Jonathan Odur, each MP receives sh50,000 per committee sitting in Parliament.
“The budget typically ranges between sh2 million to sh3 million per committee sitting within Parliament. For inland field oversight visits, MPs receive a per diem of sh400,000 per day, with most trips lasting 3-5 days. Foreign oversight trips come with a per diem of $720 (about sh2.68 million) per MP and $400 (around sh1.5 million) per staff member. The cost of air tickets depends on the destination,” Odur explained.
On average, each committee has 32 members.