Legal Committee Chair Admits Betrayal of Ugandans in 11th Parliament

What the report says

John Teira, the Chairperson of Parliament’s Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, said the committee failed Ugandans during the 11th Parliament by disregarding constitutional principles and due process. He made the remarks on Friday while opening a two-day retreat for committee members at Munyonyo, where he called for a reset in the 12th Parliament and urged legislators to restore public confidence in the committee.

According to the report, Teira said the committee’s work in the previous Parliament contributed to criticism that it had been biased and had not followed the Constitution. He said that controversy around some legislation and committee reports damaged the image of Parliament and led to a loss of trust among the public.

Teira asked members to use the induction retreat to recommit to constitutionalism, the rule of law and fairness as they carry out their mandate. He said every Bill, report and decision should be tested against the Constitution. The retreat is intended to orient members on their responsibilities and strengthen team cohesion before the committee begins its work in the 12th Parliament.

The programme at Munyonyo is also expected to cover parliamentary procedure, petitions, human rights compliance and how to manage conflicts of interest in committee work.