5. The Ugandan Parliament: Greater Interaction Between MPs and Civil Society Is Needed

Even though Uganda claims to embrace democracy as a system of governance, its democratic credentials lag behind much of Sub-Saharan Africa. Parliament’s ineffectiveness contributes to the persistent increase in the incidence of corruption in the country. The problem is not a lack of oversight tools, but rather a lack of political will, coupled with limited co-ordination between parliament and other watchdogs, especially civil society groups and the media. Parliament needs to develop strategies to better accommodate and manage political party interests vis-à-vis the national interest. MPs sometimes shy away from taking a stand they believe to be in the interest of citizens for fear of being labelled a ‘rebel MP’. As an institution, it is important that Parliament provide an environment in which all opinions can be proffered without any risk to members.