Mwebesa unveils digital transformation agenda in Deputy Speaker bid

KAMPALA - Adrine Katusiime Mwebesa, the Sheema District Woman Member of Parliament, has unveiled a manifesto for the position of Deputy Speaker of Parliament centered on digital transformation, accountability, and efficiency in parliamentary oversight.

In her campaign manifesto, Mwebesa said her experience having worked in 11 countries on governance, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), procurement, and accountability systems, has equipped her with the expertise needed to modernise Parliament and strengthen legislative oversight.

The countries include Uganda, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Malawi, Somalia, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Oman, where she worked on World Bank-financed governance and accountability programmes.

Mwebesa said her vision is to build “a digitally fluent, accountable, and people-centred Parliament that drives Uganda’s transformation agenda.”

Among her key proposals is the rollout of “e-Parliament 2.0,” a system she said would allow real-time tracking of parliamentary votes, committee reports, and budget performance dashboards accessible to citizens.

She also proposed automated procurement oversight systems aimed at reducing leakages and improving transparency in public institutions.

In addition, she is advocating for a digital whistleblower platform linked to the Inspectorate of Government and the Auditor General to strengthen anti-corruption efforts.

Mwebesa also promised to establish a centralised parliamentary knowledge management system to preserve institutional memory through digital storage of Hansard reports, Bills, committee minutes, and comparative legislative practices from other countries.

Her manifesto also focuses on inclusion, proposing gender-responsive budgeting systems, virtual participation for MPs with disabilities or emergencies, and youth internship programmes in parliamentary ICT and research.

Mwebesa said her background in governance systems, digital reform, and accountability projects aligns with the National Resistance Movement manifesto’s focus on efficiency, anti-corruption, and ICT-led transformation.

She said the Deputy Speaker’s office should guide Parliament towards evidence-based oversight while modernising parliamentary administration to match Uganda’s growing digital governance ambitions.