As Uganda’s 12th Parliament officially begins its new legislative term, several Ugandans have expressed mixed expectations, hopes, and concerns regarding the performance of newly elected Members of Parliament.

Our reporter toured the village of Uganda to gather citizens’ views, and here is the report.

Uganda’s Parliament remains one of the country’s key institutions mandated to represent citizens, pass laws, and oversee government programs aimed at improving livelihoods and national development.

Since the restoration of parliamentary democracy under the 1995 Constitution, every new Parliament has come with renewed expectations from citizens for improved service delivery, accountability, employment opportunities, better healthcare, education, and infrastructure development.

However, over the years, many Ugandans have continued to express frustration over unfulfilled campaign promises, corruption allegations, controversial laws, and what they describe as growing detachment between leaders and ordinary citizens.

From the 9th to the 11th Parliament, public debates largely centered on taxation, trade regulations, unemployment, healthcare challenges, and the rising cost of living.

Now, as the 12th Parliament takes shape, citizens from different sectors are once again calling upon lawmakers to prioritize the needs of ordinary Ugandans over politics and personal interests.

Wasse Fatumah, a rice wholesaler operating at Nakayiza Building in Kisenyi, congratulated the newly elected legislators and urged them to remain closely connected to the people who voted them into office.

She appealed to members of Parliament to pay special attention to challenges affecting business communities and ordinary traders.

Meanwhile, Abed Ramathan Musoga, also a trader at Nakayiza Building, called upon legislators to focus more on serving citizens rather than pursuing personal interests.

He further appealed to the government to organize capacity-building programs to help legislators better understand how to effectively serve their constituents.

At the Old Taxi Park, Ssengendo Abdul Wasswa, a taxi driver and resident of Kireka, noted that some legislators in the previous Parliament were criticized for failing to adequately represent their voters.

Wasswa urged the new lawmakers to focus on improving roads, healthcare services, and schools, saying many Ugandans continue to suffer due to poor public services.

Ssalongo Lutaaya Faizo, another taxi driver operating at the Old Taxi Park, said citizens should also understand the limitations faced by some legislators, especially opposition MPs who may not have enough numbers to block certain government-backed bills.

Meanwhile, trader Ssali Bumali observed that many politicians often make promises during campaigns but fail to fulfill them after assuming office.

He urged the 12th Parliament to focus on practical issues affecting citizens instead of spending excessive time on political disagreements that do not directly improve people’s livelihoods.

However, not all citizens remain optimistic. Mr. Sseggawa, a boda boda rider and resident of Kireka, said some Ugandans have gradually lost confidence in legislators due to laws passed in previous parliaments that they believe negatively affected ordinary people.

Sseggawa specifically criticized the trade order policy, arguing that its enforcement has negatively affected small-scale traders and vulnerable citizens trying to earn a living.

As Uganda’s 12th Parliament begins its work, many citizens say they expect lawmakers to focus more on accountability, service delivery, economic empowerment, healthcare improvement, infrastructure development, and addressing the high cost of living affecting households across the country.