The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) has nominated three women Members of Parliament to represent the party’s backbench on the Parliamentary Commission, as preparations to operationalise the 12th Parliament gather pace.
During an emergency meeting of the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) chaired by President Yoweri Museveni at State House Entebbe on Thursday, the NRM endorsed Susan Jolly Abeja, the Woman MP for Otuke District, Faith Nakut, the Woman MP for Napak District, and Jesica Ababiku, the Woman MP for Adjumani District, for the influential administrative body.
The nominations form part of the ruling party’s efforts to complete Parliament’s leadership and governance structures before the House begins full legislative business.
The Parliamentary Commission serves as Parliament’s highest administrative and policy-making organ. It oversees the institution’s finances, human resource management, strategic planning and the welfare of legislators, while ensuring the smooth running of parliamentary operations.
Its membership comprises the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Leader of the Opposition, the minister responsible for parliamentary affairs, as well as backbench commissioners nominated by both the ruling party and the opposition before being elected by Parliament.
The latest developments follow the election of Speaker Jacob Oboth-Oboth and Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa and come as Parliament finalises the composition of its committees.
Confirming the CEC resolutions, NRM Director for Communications Emmanuel Dombo said the party had concluded its internal process of assigning members to parliamentary committees, committee leadership and the Parliamentary Commission.
He added that the CEC had also directed the NRM Parliamentary Caucus to elect the party’s flag bearers for the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) on Sunday, July 5, 2026.
Although the party has not yet released the complete list of committee assignments, the announcement indicates that internal consultations have been concluded, clearing the way for Parliament to formally approve committee memberships and leadership.
Attention is also shifting to the upcoming EALA elections, which will see Uganda choose its representatives to the regional legislative assembly. The exercise is expected to be among the first major political activities undertaken by the 12th Parliament.
Meanwhile, newly elected legislators are attending an induction programme at Speke Resort Munyonyo, where they are being oriented on their constitutional responsibilities before parliamentary business begins in earnest.
Opening the seminar, Speaker Jacob Oboth-Oboth challenged MPs to demonstrate integrity, professionalism and patriotism throughout their five-year mandate, stressing that public confidence in Parliament depends on the conduct of its members.
He urged legislators to place national interests above partisan politics, master the Rules of Procedure and strengthen oversight of public resources to improve accountability and service delivery.
The Speaker further noted that the orientation programme is intended to equip both first-time and returning legislators with the knowledge and skills required to effectively perform their legislative, oversight and budgetary functions.
The Parliamentary Commission is established under the Constitution and the Administration of Parliament Act as the institution responsible for managing Parliament’s affairs. Political parties nominate their respective backbench representatives, who are subsequently elected by the House.
The NRM’s nominations are part of the wider process of constituting Parliament’s standing and sectoral committees, which play a central role in scrutinising legislation, examining government programmes and holding ministries, departments and agencies accountable.
With committee formation and the EALA elections now taking centre stage, the 12th Parliament is steadily putting in place the structures needed to begin its legislative agenda.
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