Uganda's 11th Parliament Leaves Bills and Motions Unfinished

As the 11th Parliament of Uganda wraps up its session, a considerable volume of legislative proposals and motions face an uncertain future. According to parliamentary rules, any business pending before the House, including bills and committee reports, typically lapses upon the dissolution of Parliament. This means that pending legislation, if not expedited by the next parliamentary session, will have to be reintroduced and go through the entire legislative process again.

Several key bills, both government-sponsored and private member initiatives, were left in various stages of debate or committee review. Among these are the National Legal Aid Bill, 2022, intended to provide legal services to the underprivileged, and the Human Resource Management Professional Bill, 2025, which aims to professionalize the HR sector and combat unqualified practitioners. The latter, championed by Workers’ MP Margaret Rwabushaija, proposed stringent penalties for those practicing HR without proper certification.

Other notable unfinished business includes the Marriage Bill 2024 and the Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill 2023. The Marriage Bill, sponsored by former MP Sarah Opendi, sought to consolidate and reform Uganda’s marriage laws, covering aspects from registration to dissolution. The delay in passing these bills has drawn criticism, with some accusing the previous Parliament of prioritizing politically charged legislation while neglecting others.

This presents a challenge for the incoming Parliament, which will need to address the backlog and decide which of these unfinished initiatives warrant renewed attention. The procedural loss of pending business highlights the importance of timely legislative action and the continuous nature of parliamentary work.

Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/unfinished-business-of-the-11th-parliament-5460202