Kampala, Uganda – Uganda’s Shadow Minister for Public Service, Anna Adeke Ebaju, has sparked debate with a bold proposal to reduce the size of Parliament and separate Cabinet appointments from legislative roles.
In the Alternative Policy Statement for the Public Service Sector for FY2025/26, presented last week, Adeke, who is also the Soroti District Woman Representative, recommended that each district be represented by only two MPs-one male and one female-to streamline governance and cut the financial burden on taxpayers.
Currently, Uganda has over 500 MPs, a number Adeke describes as unsustainable given the country’s economic constraints.
“Our Parliament is bloated. In countries like India and Nigeria, MPs represent far more citizens than in Uganda, yet those nations have significantly larger populations,” Adeke stated.
According to data from the Parliamentary Commission, Uganda had 557 MPs as of 2024, a figure expected to rise with the creation of new administrative units and special interest seats.
Comparatively, India has 545 MPs for a population of 1.4 billion, while Nigeria has fewer than 500 lawmakers for 220 million people.
Adeke argues that Uganda’s high number of legislators increases administrative costs without necessarily improving representation.
“Reducing the number of MPs will rationalize public expenditure and enhance the efficiency of parliamentary debates and oversight,” she noted.
Beyond restructuring Parliament, Adeke is also advocating a constitutional amendment to prevent MPs from simultaneously serving as Cabinet Ministers, arguing that the duality compromises legislative independence.
“We strongly propose that cabinet ministers should not be MPs. If an MP is appointed to the cabinet, they should resign their parliamentary seat before assuming ministerial duties,” she asserted.
She explained that this conflict of interest weakens Parliament’s oversight role, as legislators who serve in the Executive cannot effectively hold the government accountable.
“The legislature is meant to check and balance the Executive, but that becomes impossible when MPs are also ministers in the very government they are supposed to scrutinize,” she said.
Adeke’s proposals have reignited discussions on governance reforms, with supporters arguing that a leaner Parliament and a separate Cabinet would lead to greater accountability and efficiency.
However, critics suggest that such changes face political resistance, given the entrenched interests in Uganda’s political system.