Ezra Twino | Kampala | Monday, May 4, 2026
KAMPALA — Parliament turned into a beehive of activity Monday morning as newly elected Members of the 12th Parliament began picking up official invitations and guidelines for their swearing-in ceremony slated for next week.
Dozens of MPs-elect were ushered into a room at Parliament’s Conference Hall where staff from the Office of the Clerk handed them invitation cards and a set of guidelines ahead of the oath-taking.
The atmosphere was a mix of excitement and formality. Some MPs arrived with family members, while others came in groups from their respective political parties. Parliament Police and Sergeant-at-Arms officers guided the legislators through the process, verifying names against the Electoral Commission gazette before issuing the documents.
Among the notable MPs-elect who picked their invitations were Hon. Ismail Kasule, MP-elect for Hoima Western City Division; Hon. Jackline Mbabazi, MP representing the Western Elderly and wife to former Premier John Patrick Amama Mbabazi; Lydia Mirembe, Butambala District Woman MP-elect; Sarah Babirye Kityo, Bukoto East MP-elect; Asinansi Nyakato; and Justine Nameere, among others.
After receiving his invitation and guidelines, Hon. Kasule Ismail thanked God for the victory and the voters for their trust. “I thank the Almighty for enabling me achieve this victory, and I thank the people of Hoima Western City Division for trusting me. I am ready for the swearing-in next week and I will not disappoint them,” Kasule said.
“It’s real now. Picking this invitation makes it official that I’m joining the 12th Parliament next week,” said another MP-elect from Eastern Uganda who declined to be named until after swearing-in.
LOGISTICS AND GUIDELINES
Clerk to Parliament officials confirmed that the exercise will run for three days to ensure all 529 MPs-elect receive their invitations and instructions. The swearing-in is expected to run from Tuesday, May 12 to Thursday, May 14, 2026, with members taking the Oath of Allegiance and the Oath of Member of Parliament.
Each MP-elect has been asked to come with only three people accompanying them due to space and security protocols. The invitation pack details the MP’s allocated date, time slot, and dress code. MPs were also given copies of the Constitution, the Rules of Procedure, and a guide on Chamber conduct.
“We are ensuring a smooth, dignified transition from the 11th to the 12th Parliament. All systems are in place,” a senior Clerk’s Office official told Eastafricaobserver.
SECURITY AND ACCESS
Access to the Parliament precincts remains restricted, with only MPs-elect and their three accredited guests allowed into the Conference Hall. Security was visibly heightened at all gates, with vehicles subjected to checks.
The swearing-in will pave way for the election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the 12th Parliament, a contest that has already drawn significant interest within the ruling NRM and opposition parties.
NEXT: After swearing-in, Parliament is expected to sit for its first official business by the third week of May, with the State of the Nation Address and Budget Speech on the immediate agenda.
Eastafricaobserver will provide full coverage of the swearing-in ceremonies and the election of the Speaker of the 12th Parliament.