The Chief of Staff of the Uganda People's Defence Air Force (UPDAF) and Whip of the 10 independent Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) representatives in Parliament, Brig Gen Dr. David Gonyi, has underscored the central role of parliamentary committees in strengthening legislative oversight, budgeting and law-making.
Brig Gen Gonyi made the remarks on Thursday during the 6th sitting of the 12th Parliament while announcing committee allocations for the 10 UPDF representatives following their deployment to different committees.
The sitting was chaired by Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa.
While presenting the committee assignments, Brig Gen Gonyi noted that parliamentary committees comprise a majority of National Resistance Movement (NRM) Members of Parliament alongside a number of opposition legislators.
"Committees are the backbone of legislative oversight, budgeting and law-making," he said.
Brig Gen Gonyi explained that Parliament operates through two main categories of committees — Standing Committees and Sectoral Committees.
Standing Committees are permanent bodies established at the beginning of a parliamentary term and reconstituted halfway through the term. They handle continuous oversight, specialised investigations and other administrative functions of the House.
Sectoral Committees, on the other hand, are aligned with government ministries and are reconstituted at the beginning of each parliamentary session. Each committee, he said, comprises about 30 members and is responsible for examining budget allocations and scrutinising Bills within its respective sector.
Among the UPDF representatives assigned to Standing Committees, Maj Gen Henry Matsiko was appointed to the Public Accounts Committee, Brig Gen Dr. David Gonyi to the Business Committee, and Lt Gen James Mugira to the Committee on National Economy.
Maj Gen James Kinalwa was assigned to both the Appointments Committee and the Committee on Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and Related Matters.
Other assignments include Col Night Ikiriza to the Equal Opportunities Committee, Lt Gen Sam Kavuma to the Public Accounts Committee for Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE), Lt Gen Sam Okiding to the Public Accounts Committee for Local Government, Col Christine Nekesa to the Human Rights Committee, Maj Gen Joseph Ssemwanga to the Climate Change Committee, and Col Sylvia Meeme to the Science, Technology and Innovation Committee.
Brig Gen Gonyi also noted that other key Standing Committees include the Budget Committee, Committee on Rules, Privileges and Discipline, and the Government Assurance and Implementation Committee.
For Sectoral Committees, Lt Gen Sam Kavuma was allocated to the Committee on Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Maj Gen James Kinalwa to Tourism, Trade and Industry, Col Christine Nekesa to Health, Maj Gen Henry Matsiko to Education and Sports, and Lt Gen Sam Okiding to Physical Infrastructure.
Lt Gen James Mugira was assigned to Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Col Sylvia Meeme to Environment and Natural Resources, Col Night Ikiriza to Presidential Affairs, Brig Gen Dr. David Gonyi to Foreign Affairs, and Maj Gen Joseph Ssemwanga to Defence and Internal Affairs.
Brig Gen Gonyi further announced that the 10 UPDF representatives had not been allocated to several committees, including the Committees on Privileges, Rules and Discipline, Budget, Government Assurance and Implementation, Subsidiary Legislation, Gender, Labour and Social Development, Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Public Service and Local Government, Finance, Planning and Economic Development, ICT and National Guidance, and East African Community Affairs.
He said the committee system remains a vital component of Parliament's work because it allows legislators to conduct detailed scrutiny of government programmes, exercise oversight and undertake legislative duties that would be difficult to achieve during plenary sessions.
The deployment of UPDF representatives to parliamentary committees marks an important stage in the work of the 12th Parliament, where committees are expected to play a key role in shaping policies, reviewing government expenditure and strengthening accountability.
