BREAKING NEWS!! Museveni Turns Down The Proposal To Reduce The Number Of MPs In Parliament

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has reportedly turned down a proposal to reduce the number of Members of Parliament (MPs) in Uganda, a move that has reignited national discussion over the size, cost, and effectiveness of the country’s legislature.

The proposal—backed by civil society groups, economists, and a handful of reform-minded lawmakers—sought to streamline Parliament by reducing its size, aiming to improve efficiency and ease the financial burden on taxpayers. However, President Museveni dismissed the idea, reportedly describing it as “unwise” and potentially damaging to national governance.

Sources close to State House indicate that Museveni believes a smaller Parliament would harm representation, particularly in Uganda’s rural and underserved regions. He is said to have argued that a large number of MPs ensures broader access to government services and better political inclusion for communities across the country.

Yet critics strongly disagree. With over 500 MPs, Uganda’s Parliament is among the largest in Africa, and its maintenance comes at a high cost. Detractors argue that the expanding legislature has not translated into better laws or governance—but rather increased redundancy, inefficiency, and excessive public spending.

Supporters of the proposal say the ballooning size of Parliament is more about political reward than effective representation. They claim the growing number of MPs reflects efforts to consolidate political power, reward loyalists, and entrench the ruling party’s dominance ahead of upcoming elections.

Economists and accountability advocates have warned that the rising cost of maintaining Parliament—through salaries, allowances, vehicles, and travel expenses—is unsustainable. Many Ugandans are questioning whether their taxes are being used responsibly, especially at a time when the country faces serious economic challenges.

Though the proposal never reached formal parliamentary debate, its rejection has exposed growing tensions between reform advocates and the executive. Some observers view the president’s decision as prioritizing political interests over meaningful institutional reform.

With elections on the horizon, analysts say maintaining a high number of constituencies strengthens the ruling party’s electoral reach, as each MP can act as a local mobilizer. This, they argue, gives Museveni greater control over the legislative branch and the political landscape as a whole.

For now, the structure of Uganda’s Parliament remains unchanged—large, costly, and closely aligned with executive power. However, the demand for reform is likely to persist, as more Ugandans begin to question the value and accountability of their political institutions.