Parliament Resumes: MPs Demand Action on Debt, Electoral Reforms, and National Priorities

As Parliament resumes tomorrow after the recess, members have raised critical issues they believe must be prioritized in the 2025 legislative calendar.

These include addressing Uganda’s growing debt burden, finalizing electoral reforms ahead of the general elections, restoring Parliament’s dignity, and tackling national challenges such as infrastructure, health, and security.

With Uganda’s public debt now standing at UGX 97.5 trillion—representing 52% of the GDP and consuming 57% of the national budget—MPs are concerned about the country’s borrowing habits.

Otuke County MP Paul Omara noted that Uganda needs to reduce its dependence on loans by expanding its fiscal space and utilizing oil revenues to ease the debt burden.

“We need to ensure we borrow less and increase fiscal space to fund our own budget. With oil revenue expected to come in, we should use it to settle our debts,” Omara said.

However, the Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Chris Baryomunsi, dismissed concerns over borrowing, emphasizing that Uganda’s debt levels remain manageable and that the focus should be on how loans are utilized.

“The issue of borrowing is not a big problem. Countries even at 100% debt-to-GDP ratio are fine as long as the money is invested wisely. Our loans are going to critical areas such as roads and electricity, and we can account for them,” Baryomunsi remarked.

Electoral Reforms Take Center Stage

With the country preparing for elections, Tororo Woman MP Sarah Opendi stressed the urgency of enacting electoral reforms to avoid a contested election.

“This is an election year, but Parliament must focus on election reforms. There are things we should have done and haven’t. The necessary electoral laws must be passed early enough to avoid confusion,” Opendi said.

Opendi also highlighted the need to address corruption within the electoral process, urging the Ministry of Justice to expedite its reforms.

Several MPs expressed concerns about incidents that undermined Parliament’s integrity last year. Kasilo County MP Elijah Okupa called on the security forces to respect the legislature, referencing instances when the army allegedly stormed Parliament to interfere with proceedings.

“We hope this year we don’t experience what happened last year. The army must respect the law and this institution,” Okupa said.

Nakawa East MP Ronald Balimwezo also condemned security forces for disrupting parliamentary proceedings and emphasized the need to ensure Kampala’s security, particularly in addressing rising crime in the city.

Members of Parliament also highlighted sectoral challenges that require urgent attention. Tingey county MP in Kapchorwa, Twalla Fadil, cited the need for improved funding for health centres, including ambulances, while Balimwezo stressed the importance of increasing the budget for Kampala.

“Kampala is the economic hub of Uganda, yet it remains underfunded. Road infrastructure is our most important public asset, and we need to set our priorities right,” Balimwezo stated.

As Parliament resumes, discussions on the 2025/26 national budget are expected to dominate, alongside the prioritization of electoral reforms and national development.

MPs have urged the government to focus on people-centered policies, especially as the election season heats up.