Prof. Mwesiga Baregu (International Relations) of St. Augustine Uni, T.Z makes a presentation at MPs Induction

Members of Parliament have decried the tendency of political parties to dictate to them positions to be taken in Parliament on topical issues. Members raised their concerns during the ongoing post-election seminar held at Imperial Royale Hotel, Kampala on Wednesday 29th June 2016.

The Members of Parliament said it was common for party whips and party leadership to ignore their ideas in the political party caucuses. Ruhinda North MP Thomas Tayebwa says in the NRM party, the leadership did not give them a chance to influence the party’s position adding that Central Executive Committee of NRM should give room to its MPs to advance their ideas instead of suffocating them.  Masindi woman Jalia Bintu suggested that in the 10th Parliament, a system should be devised to allow MPs a certain level of autonomy from their political parties saying MPs need to advance issues that are not necessarily in tandem with their party positions and therefore need freedom. Kilak North County Anthony Akol MP said Parliament needs to be treated like the arm of government it is citing an instance recently where NRM leadership was seen advancing their stand on who should be elected Speaker and deputy speaker of Parliament.

In response, Prof. Mwesiga Baregu, a University Professor from St. Augustine University in Dar-es-salaam, Tanzania said MPs need to be given their freedom because they operate under an autonomous arm of government. According to Baregu, there is a tendency for the Executive through the ruling party to encroach upon the autonomy of Parliament and Political parties tend to expel their members who take a different stand in Parliament, which is wrong.

A case in Uganda can be drawn from the four NRM MPs; Mohammad Nsereko, Barnabas Tinkasimiire, Theodore Ssekikubo and Wilfred Niwagaba, who were expelled from their party for having differing ideas during the 9th Parliament. Prof. Baregu says such actions water down the legitimacy of Parliament. In his presentation, Prof. Baregu said African states suffer from a crisis of legitimacy and when many fail, they find alternative means of acquiring that legitimacy.

Prof. Baregu said that MPs need to focus on these areas of weakness and work towards rectifying them.