Why Uganda should adopt post-legislative scrutiny

________________

Parliamentarians and policy experts are urging Parliament to adopt Post-Legislative Scrutiny (PLS) as a formal mechanism to evaluate how laws are implemented and their real impact on society.

PLS refers to the systematic review of laws after they are enacted, with the goal of ensuring they achieve their intended purpose, identify unintended consequences and recommend improvements. Advocates say it is critical to ensure laws benefit citizens in line with legislative intent and contribute to good governance.

The call was made during the Africa Regional Conference on Parliament and Legislation (AfriPAL) at Hotel Africana in Kampala on June 18, 2025, under the theme: Parliaments in Africa: Opportunities and Prospects for Sustainable Development.

Imanga Wamunyima MP from Zambia addressing delegates at Hotel Africana. (Credit: AfriPal)

Former Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda emphasized the importance of making African parliaments more relevant and responsive to citizens’ needs.

“Parliaments must produce legislation and shape inclusive policies that respond to the real needs of African communities. Dialogue must be in plain language, inclusive, and focused on solutions. This will help us navigate the pressing challenges facing African legislators today,” Rugunda said.

Do not sideline academia

Timothy Chemonges, the executive director of the Centre for Policy Analysis (CEPA), said academia has been largely sidelined in legislative processes.

“Researchers and academics produce vital information that ends up on shelves or in inaccessible journals. Their work should be integrated into legislative processes to support evidence-based decision-making and post-legislative scrutiny,” Chemonges explained.

Chemonges added that with issues like health, education, and unemployment affecting communities, research-based input could help Parliament follow up on how laws are affecting society and propose meaningful reforms.

Hannah Muzee, the chief convenor of AfriPAL, stressed the need to bridge the gap between researchers and legislators, especially amid limited public resources. Muzee proposed exploring support from local philanthropies to fund research-based policy interventions.

Dr Martin Kizito, the academic dean of the School of Social Sciences at Uganda Christian University, said many African parliaments pass laws without conducting any post-enactment analysis.

Dr Martin Kizito academic dean school of social sciences Uganda Christian University (UCU) addressing delegates at Hotel Africana. (Credit: AfriPal)

“This leads to poorly implemented laws and unintended consequences. PLS is necessary to improve governance and strengthen Parliament’s oversight function,” Kizito said.

He noted that while scrutiny frameworks are often viewed as Western imports, tools like the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) can serve as Afrocentric models. However, he stressed that domestication of APRM is key. He proposed that PLS should be tailored to local contexts and embedded within parliamentary responsibility, not just seen as presidential initiatives.

Hansard editor at the Parliament of Kenya Ali Abdulmajid Ahmed highlighted the role of technology in improving legislative transparency. Ahed said Kenya is exploring AI-based transcription tools similar to Estonia’s HANS system, which produces a day's Hansard in 20 minutes compared to 12 hours in Kenya.

MP from Zambia Imanga Wamunyima shared that his country established a PLS caucus in 2023. Following a severe drought and El Niño event, they reviewed the Food Reserves Act, leading to Cabinet-backed changes to food policies. Wamunyima emphasized that PLS should be led by a neutral, opposition MP and enjoy cross-party support to be effective.

Prof. Gerald Karyeija, the president of the African Association of Legislation, urged African legislatures to reimagine their role not only as lawmakers but as champions of accountability, inclusivity, and long-term development.

Dr Maria Mousmouti, a lecturer at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, University of London, called on parliaments to move beyond being the final stop in lawmaking.

“Parliament must become the conscience of the legislative process. Laws don’t end when passed—they begin. We need to follow up on their impact, engage citizens, and ensure laws work in practice, not just on paper,” Mousmouti said.

Maria Mousmouti lecturere at the University of London addressing delegates at Hotel Africana. (Credit: AfriPal)

Franklin De Vrieze, a consultant with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, described PLS as “a legislative compass” essential for governments navigating complexity, crisis and change but not a luxury.

The conference is jointly hosted by the Centre for Policy Analysis, the African Institute for Development Policy, the Population and Social Development Institute, the International Association of Legislation, and the Westminster Foundation for Democracy.