Mao petition backed by ckerk to parliament letter on induction.
By Our Reporter
KAMPALA – The Clerk to Parliament, Hon. Adolf Mwesigye, has thrown his weight behind a petition by the DP President General and Laroo-Pece MP-elect, Hon. Norbert Mao, seeking to defer the induction of the 12th Parliament legislators.
In a move that aligns with long-standing parliamentary tradition, Mwesigye confirmed that the orientation and induction of the incoming Members of Parliament will only take place after the House has officially elected a Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
The development follows a formal petition by Mao, who argued that conducting an induction before the election of the House leadership would be “putting the cart before the horse.”
Upholding Tradition
Confirming the stance of the legislature’s administrative wing, Mwesigye stated that the office has no intention of breaking away from the legal and procedural precedents that govern the transition between parliaments.
“The office of the Clerk has no plans to deviate from this established practice,” Mwesigye noted in a brief communication.
According to the Constitution and the Parliamentary Rules of Procedure, the first order of business for a new Parliament—presided over by the Chief Justice or a designated judge—is the election of the Speaker. Only after the Speaker is sworn in can the House proceed with other business, including the administration of oaths and the subsequent induction of members.
The Mao Factor:
Mao, who is among the frontrunners for the Speakership in the 12th Parliament, has been vocal about the need to restore institutional integrity. Analysts suggest his petition is a strategic move to ensure that the process of leadership selection remains the primary focus of the newly elected members before they are absorbed into the routine administrative sessions of the House.
The induction process is crucial for new legislators as it introduces them to the intricacies of the legislative process, committee work, and the code of conduct. However, with the Clerk’s backing, this exercise will now wait until the “white smoke” rises from the ballot boxes for the Speaker’s seat.
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