The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Norbert Mao, has called for the postponement of the induction programme for Members of the 12th Parliament until after the election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, arguing that leadership should first be established to ensure an orderly orientation process.
In a letter addressed to the Clerk to Parliament dated April 27, 2026, Mao stated that while the induction programme is important for equipping MPs with knowledge on legislative procedures, ethics, and parliamentary practice, its current scheduling could be disrupted by ongoing political competition for parliamentary leadership positions.
He noted that a significant proportion of the incoming legislators are new and therefore require focused training free from political distractions.
Mao further argued that Parliament can only be considered fully constituted after the election of its top leadership, comparing early induction to “training a team before selecting its captain.”
He cited his observations from the NRM retreat in Kyankwanzi, where discussions around the Speakership reportedly overshadowed other agenda items.
The Minister also raised concerns about potential bias in the selection of facilitators for the induction programme, suggesting that some presenters could favour specific political interests.
He revived a proposal for a permanent Institute of Parliamentary Studies, previously discussed under the name of former Speaker Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, noting that such an institution could provide a more neutral and structured approach to training legislators.
Parliament is expected to respond to the proposal as preparations for the induction and the election of parliamentary leadership continue ahead of the full constitution of the 12th Parliament.