Kabula County Member of Parliament, Enos Asiimwe, has expressed optimism that the 11th Parliament will complete the national budget process before its dissolution on April 24, 2026.
Speaking during an exclusive interview with NBS Television on Tuesday, Asiimwe emphasized that much of the parliamentary work on the budget has already been carried out.
“In the remaining months, we can finish up the budget process because the major work we have to do as Parliament was done during the budget framework paper, reviewing the policies of government, reviewing their estimates and all that,” he said.
“In the first quarter, and I imagine if they present the budget on Thursday we should be able to finish before the 11th Parliament dissolves on April 24, 2026. In as much as it is going to be presented on Thursday, much of the work has already been done, we are only going to review and appropriate as per the law.”
Despite Asiimwe’s confidence, concerns have emerged regarding the ability of MPs to adequately scrutinize the budget, particularly as many legislators will not return in the 12th Parliament.
The Executive Director of the Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group, Julius Mukunda, in the same interview highlighted the democratic and accountability challenges of the current process.
“The issue is there as there is a democracy and accountability gap, as we have an old Parliament approving a budget which the new MPs won’t have a clue about. If this budget was accompanied by its real scrutiny, they would not be able to finish it by the close of the 11th Parliament,” he said.
Parliament is currently concentrating on two key areas: the Auditor General’s report and the National Budget. The budget process typically follows a detailed timeline:
* December: Submission of National Budget Framework Paper (BFP) to Parliament
* January – February: Parliamentary Committee Review of Budget Framework Paper
* February: Parliamentary Approval of the National Budget Framework Paper
* March: Presentation of Ministerial Policy Statements and Draft Budget Estimates to Parliament
* April: Parliamentary Committee Scrutiny of Ministerial Policy Statements and Budget Estimates
* May: Parliamentary Debates and Approval of Annual Budget Estimates, Passage of Tax and Revenue Bills, and First Approval of the National Budget by May 31
* June: Budget Speech by the Minister of Finance in Parliament, and Passage of the Appropriation Act and Remaining Revenue Laws by June 30
Given this schedule, questions remain whether all steps, including debates and final approvals, can realistically be completed before April 24.
Aside from the budget, the 11th Parliament still has several legislative items pending, including:
* National Legal Aid Bill 2022 – Introduced as a private member's bill introduced by Kumi Municipality MP Silas Agon
* Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill 2023 – Private member’s bill introduced by Tororo Woman MP Sarah Opendi
* Contracts Farming Bill 2023 – Private member’s bill introduced by Dr. Abed Bwanika, Kimanya-Kabonera MP
* Magistrates Court Amendment Bill 2026 – Government bill
* Constitutional Amendment Bill 2024 – Government bill
* Marriage Bill 2024 – Private member’s bill introduced by Tororo Woman MP Sarah Opendi
* Administration of Parliament Amendment Bill 2024 – Private member’s bill introduced by Mityana South MP Richard Lumu
* Human Resource Management Professional Bill 2025 – Private member’s bill introduced by Worker’s MP Margaret Rwabushaija
* Copyright and Neighboring Rights Amendment Bill 2025 – Government bill
* Forensic and Scientific Analytical Services Bill 2025 – Government bill
* National Drug and Health Products Authority Bill 2025 – Government bill
* Khadhi Court’s Bill 2024 – Private member’s bill by Bugiri Municipality MP Asuman Basalirwa
As the 11th Parliament races toward its dissolution, the completion of both the budget and pending legislation remains under scrutiny, with civil society advocates calling for more rigorous examination to ensure transparency and accountability
