Up to 184 Members of Parliament-elect were on Wednesday sworn into Uganda’s 12th Parliament during a colourful ceremony held at the Parliament Building in Kampala ahead of the House’s first sitting scheduled for 25 May 2026.

The swearing-in ceremony, presided over by Clerk to Parliament Adolf Mwesige, started shortly after 8:00am as MPs-elect arrived accompanied by spouses, relatives, supporters and political aides.

The event attracted a festive atmosphere with performances from Crane Performance cultural troupe, which entertained guests through traditional music, dance, drums, xylophones and adungu performances representing different regions of the country.

After taking oath, several legislators pledged to focus on poverty alleviation, improving household incomes and strengthening service delivery during the new parliamentary term.

Hon. Lillian Aber, the Kitgum District Woman Representative, said agriculture would remain her top priority.

“The most important thing is that my focus is on agriculture because that is the backbone of my people,” Aber said.

She added that she would continue supporting farmers to engage in commercial agriculture, especially coffee growing and value addition, while also attracting investors to promote industrialisation.

Agago District Woman Representative Beatrice Akello Akori said legislators aligned to the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) would continue implementing the government’s socio-economic transformation agenda.

“When we came into the 11th Parliament, we wanted to contribute to the socio-economic transformation of this country. The journey we started in 2021 is what we want to consolidate in 2026,” Akello said.

She said leaders in Agago were encouraging farmers to shift from subsistence farming to cash crops such as coffee and bananas to improve household incomes.

Speaker of Parliament Anita Among thanked Ugandans for entrusting leaders with responsibility and urged legislators to prioritise wananchi and service delivery.

“As you heard the message yesterday, this is ‘Kisanja Hakuna Kulala’ [a term of no sleep]. We must work for wanainchi and concentrate on what affects local people,” Among said.

Among described the outgoing 11th Parliament as one of the most representative legislatures Uganda has had.

“The 11th Parliament has been a very good Parliament. We have done a lot of work and I can tell you it is one of the most representative parliaments we have ever had,” she added.

Kakumiro District Woman Representative Robinah Nabbanja credited President Yoweri Museveni for identifying her leadership potential at a young age.

“I am what I am because of the President. He identified me when I was still a young woman at the age of 26,” Nabbanja said.

She said fighting poverty through the Parish Development Model (PDM) would remain central in the new parliamentary term.

The Prime Minister also defended her record in office, citing increased monitoring of government programmes and infrastructure projects across the country.

Kinkizi County East MP Chris Baryomunsi pledged to continue advocating for access to safe water, healthcare, education and decent housing while supporting wealth creation programmes.

Soroti District Woman Representative Anne Adeke Ebaju said the 12th Parliament should address transition from the current regime to the next one.

Workers Representative Annet Birungi said establishing a minimum wage for Ugandans would be among her first priorities in Parliament.

Kamuli District Woman Representative Rebecca Kadaga said she would continue pursuing ongoing development projects in her constituency, including industrial parks, education and infrastructure.

“We are just continuing the work we have been doing, especially on construction and industrial development,” Kadaga said.

Kadaga also welcomed President Museveni’s “Kisanja no sleep” message, saying leaders must address service delivery gaps identified during campaigns.

The swearing-in exercise will continue until Friday, 15 May 2026, in preparation for the official opening and first sitting of Uganda’s 12th Parliament on 25 May 2026.