Humanist

It is campaign season. As they pick up party primary nomination forms, what questions are we the electorate asking of our people’s representatives?

Are we even bothering to find out how they have truly done their jobs?

What is documented in the Hansard, is the universally accepted objective means of verification for evaluating performance of members of parliament (MPs), in all their roles:

• Representation.
• Oversight.
• Appropriation.
• Legislation.
• Quality of their participation in plenary debate.
• Decisions of parliament passed.

Having no record in the Hansard of an MP speaking during plenary, as 64 MPs reportedly did not speak in plenary for a 12-month period, should be an issue of great concern.

That an MP doesn’t speak at all during plenary is a good indicator of the MP’s abdication of their primary major role.

Therefore, with all its weakness, African Leadership Institute Scorecard, was the best measurement tool, in Uganda for measuring the performance of MPs.

“To generate the scorecard, we study the records for example of attendance. We read the entire attendance record of the year and establish how many times each MP was present or absent and why. We also look at participation; what contribution did a particular MP make in a particular debate? We also consider the amount of influence the person may have exerted to determine the quality of his arguments. For example, who or how many people referred to your point in the ensuing debate or was it of no consequence? Whom did you lobby in pursuit of a particular Bill? The scorecard brings out the movers and shakers of business in the House. We do this at the committees and other levels up to the district council meetings where MPs from the district are ex-officials.”

David Pulkol, Director of African Leadership Institute quoted by The Independent

Since we have a large parliament of 500 plus members of parliament, let there be a ‘plenary speaking chat’ which ensures that each legislator gets the opportunity to speak during plenary at least once a year.

If we can do so for their swearing in ceremony, then it is feasible.

Even tasks such as presentation of committee reports can be distributed to multiple members and not only one committee member reading the report.

Alternatively, reduce the size of parliament by at least half its current
size. This would be the better solution, in fact, which will also ensure the
reduction of the cost of Parliament.