By Kato Jamil
Ugandans express mixed feelings about Members of Parliament (MPs) prioritizing public service delivery over their constitutional duties to represent, legislate, deliberate, appropriate funds, and provide oversight.
The 2024 Sauti za Wananchi report by Twaweza-Uganda reveals that 64% of citizens view MPs primarily as communicators, responsible for relaying public concerns to the government and staying engaged with their constituencies. However, 29% of respondents expect MPs to provide direct support, highlighting the varied expectations for MPs’ roles.
“Seventy-seven percent of citizens remember the promises made by MPs during campaigns, yet 45% report that key pledges—such as improved roads, schools, health facilities, and electricity—remain unmet,” said Marie Nanyanzi, Senior Programs Officer at Twaweza.
Mawogola South MP Goreth Namugga clarified that service delivery falls under the government’s purview, not the MPs’. “Our role as MPs is to ensure resources are well-used,” she explained, attributing unfulfilled promises to the high public expectations set during campaigns.
Namugga also criticized the “commercialization of politics,” stating, “While people know MPs shouldn’t give money, politics has turned into a survival game. Leaders must educate citizens about MPs’ actual responsibilities.”
Joseph Tahinduka, a policy analyst at the Center for Policy Analysis, suggested that economic empowerment could reduce the public’s dependence on MPs for material support. “As long as citizens face financial insecurity, they’ll continue to look to politics to meet material needs,” he said, noting that economic stability could shift expectations.
Survey data from Sauti za Wananchi indicate that most citizens (64%) view MPs as advocates, while 29% see them as sources of direct assistance. This trend has remained steady since 2019, with rural and lower-income groups more inclined to seek material support, while urban and wealthier citizens focus more on MPs’ legislative and advocacy roles.
The report also notes a lack of direct engagement between MPs and constituents; 86% of citizens report that their MP has never held a public meeting to gather feedback or discuss parliamentary matters. Only 14% of citizens report any engagement, with slightly higher rates in rural areas.
Just 6% of citizens have ever reached out to their MP, typically seeking financial assistance or updates on local projects. Communication occurs through direct contact (56%), public hearings (30%), and local leaders (18%).
Despite limited engagement, interest in parliamentary affairs is growing. Seventy-three percent of Ugandans now follow parliamentary updates through live broadcasts, a notable increase from 51% in 2019. Family and friends (30%) and news clips (20%) are also popular information sources, with wealthier, urban citizens favoring news clips and social media, while word-of-mouth remains more common among women.
Discussed during an October 13 Twitter Space hosted by Twaweza, these findings underscore the need for MPs to balance their constitutional responsibilities with constituents’ expectations for material support and open communication.
Public education on MPs’ actual roles could help foster a more informed understanding of Uganda’s political processes, potentially bridging the gap between citizen expectations and MPs’ constitutional mandates.
