The Parliament of Uganda has announced that Members of Parliament-elect to the 12th Parliament will officially be sworn in between May 13 and May 15, 2026, at Parliament House in Kampala, in line with constitutional and procedural requirements governing the transition into a new legislative term.
The swearing-in exercise is a mandatory constitutional process that must be completed before any elected representative can take part in parliamentary business, including sitting or voting in the House.
According to Article 81(4) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, every person elected to Parliament is required to take and subscribe to both the oath of allegiance and the oath of a Member of Parliament as outlined in the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution.
The law further emphasizes that no elected representative is permitted to participate in parliamentary proceedings before fulfilling this requirement.
Clause 5 of the same article reinforces this provision, stating that, except for the purpose of taking the prescribed oaths, no person shall sit or vote in Parliament before completing the formal swearing-in process.
Parliamentary Rules of Procedure similarly provide clear guidance on the matter. Rule 3(1) stipulates that every Member must, before formally taking their seat, take and subscribe to the required oaths in accordance with the Constitution.
The rule ensures that all elected legislators are formally bound by the oath of allegiance before assuming office.
Further, Rule 3(2) reiterates the restriction on participation in parliamentary proceedings prior to oath-taking, while Rule 3(3) assigns the responsibility of administering the oaths to the Clerk to Parliament.
The Clerk is required to conduct this exercise before the first sitting of the new Parliament.
The announcement marks the formal start of transition preparations for the 12th Parliament, setting the stage for incoming legislators to assume their constitutional duties following the 2026 general elections.
The swearing-in ceremony is expected to usher in a new legislative cycle, shaping Uganda’s parliamentary agenda for the coming term.