What is the role of the Members of Parliament?
MOST Members of Parliament have been facing a lot of pressure from the electorate to provide social amenities like roads, drugs in hospitals, clean water and construction of schools.
By Catherine Bekunda
MOST Members of Parliament have been facing a lot of pressure from the electorate to provide social amenities like roads, drugs in hospitals, clean water and construction of schools.
A great number of candidates aspiring for parliamentary seats also dupe voters promising to provide the same. These functions are supposed to be played by the central government and the local government. The MPs’ only role is to identify the needs of their people and pass the information to either the local government or central government.
According to Article 79 of the Constitution, Parliament has the power to make laws on any matter for the peace, order, development and good governance of Uganda.
“Except as provided in this Constitution, no person or body other than Parliament shall have power to make provisions having the force of law in Uganda except under authority conferred by an Act of Parliament,†reads part of the Constitution.
MPs are also charged with the duty of protecting the Constitution and promoting the democratic governance of the country.
The parliamentary rules of procedure state that MPs are given the mandate to pass laws for the good governance of Uganda, by giving legislative sanctions, taxation and acquisition of loans, the means of carrying out the work of the Government.
MPs have a duty to scrutinise the Government policy and administration by pre-legislative scrutiny of bills referred to the Parliamentary committees by Parliament; scrutinising of the various objects of expenditure and the sums to be spent on each in the budget process.
MPs have the power to increase or decrease the funds allocated to a specific item in the national budget.
MPs also ensure transparency and accountability in the application of public funds by carrying out monitoring of the implementation of the Government programmes and projects.
Another function of MPs is to debate matters of topical interest usually highlighted in the President’s State of the Nation address.
They are also charged with the duty of vetting the appointment of persons nominated by the President under the Constitution or any other enactment.
MPs are mandated to mobilise their constituents for development and educate them on the policies of the Government.
It is not the MP’s role to build schools, health centres, bridges and roads, extend piped water to different villages and extend electricity or any other social amenities to their constituents.
MOST Members of Parliament have been facing a lot of pressure from the electorate to provide social amenities like roads, drugs in hospitals, clean water and construction of schools.
A great number of candidates aspiring for parliamentary seats also dupe voters promising to provide the same. These functions are supposed to be played by the central government and the local government. The MPs’ only role is to identify the needs of their people and pass the information to either the local government or central government.
According to Article 79 of the Constitution, Parliament has the power to make laws on any matter for the peace, order, development and good governance of Uganda.
“Except as provided in this Constitution, no person or body other than Parliament shall have power to make provisions having the force of law in Uganda except under authority conferred by an Act of Parliament,†reads part of the Constitution.
MPs are also charged with the duty of protecting the Constitution and promoting the democratic governance of the country.
The parliamentary rules of procedure state that MPs are given the mandate to pass laws for the good governance of Uganda, by giving legislative sanctions, taxation and acquisition of loans, the means of carrying out the work of the Government.
MPs have a duty to scrutinise the Government policy and administration by pre-legislative scrutiny of bills referred to the Parliamentary committees by Parliament; scrutinising of the various objects of expenditure and the sums to be spent on each in the budget process.
MPs have the power to increase or decrease the funds allocated to a specific item in the national budget.
MPs also ensure transparency and accountability in the application of public funds by carrying out monitoring of the implementation of the Government programmes and projects.
Another function of MPs is to debate matters of topical interest usually highlighted in the President’s State of the Nation address.
They are also charged with the duty of vetting the appointment of persons nominated by the President under the Constitution or any other enactment.
MPs are mandated to mobilise their constituents for development and educate them on the policies of the Government.
It is not the MP’s role to build schools, health centres, bridges and roads, extend piped water to different villages and extend electricity or any other social amenities to their constituents.