Parliament Raises Concern as Only 11 of More Than 50 Bills Meet 45-Day Deadline

What the report says

The Parliamentary Commission in Uganda has raised concern about delays in handling legislation, saying only 11 of more than 50 bills brought before Parliament in the 2025/2026 financial year were processed within the required 45 days. The issue was highlighted by Faith Nakut, the Parliamentary Commissioner responsible for Finance, Administration and Planning, in an interview following the tabling of the Commission’s annual performance report.

Nakut said the report pointed to wider performance gaps in Parliament and in some institutions that report to it. She noted that organizations receiving money from the Consolidated Fund are expected to submit annual performance reports, describing that duty as a constitutional requirement. According to the report, many bills took longer than the set timeline, while Parliament also missed a programme leadership meeting during the reporting year.

To improve performance, Nakut said the 12th Parliament is focusing on building the capacity of MPs and technical staff, especially within committees that scrutinize bills. She also said additional funding is being directed to committees to help them work more efficiently. The Commission is likewise moving to reactivate the Programme Leadership Committee, which helps coordinate legislative business.

The concerns matter because delays in processing bills can slow government policy and private members’ proposals. More broadly, the report underscores the need for stronger coordination, staffing and oversight in Parliament, though the article does not give a timeline for when the reforms will take full effect.