Under the supervision of Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa, four new Members of Parliament have taken oath at the plenary sitting on Wednesday, April 3, 2024.
The members who took their oath of allegiance include, Dokolo District Woman MP, Sarah Aguti, on the UPC ticket. Aguti replaces the late Cecilia Ogwal, who died in January 2024.
She was followed by David Ochwa who replaces Polycarp Ogwari as the Agule County MP, following a Court of Appeal ruling last month that sacked the latter from the House, citing his illegal nomination for the 2021 general elections.
Kenneth Omona, the Minister of State for Northern Uganda and Balaam Barugahara, the Minister of State for Gender, Labour and Social Development (Youth and Children Affairs), both ex officio members, also took their oaths.
Both were appointed to Cabinet on March 21, 2024 alongside Phiona Nyamutooro, the State for Energy and Mineral Development (Minerals), and Gen. Wilson Mbasu Mbadi, the Minister of State for Trade, Industry and Cooperatives (Trade).
Nyamutooro and Gen. Mbadi did not take the oaths upon their appointment as they are elected Members of Parliament.
Barugahara promised to serve the country while Omona said that he was glad to return to Parliament after many years away.
Nyamutooro praised the President for recognising and capitalising on the energy of youths to drive leadership in Uganda.
“I pledge that as a representative of the young people, our pace is set and we look forward to seeing how best Uganda can fully utilise its natural resources to fast track our development as a country,” she said. The 11th Parliament as of April 3, 2024, has 556 parliamentarians.