By Aggrey Baba
DP president General and Laroo-Pece MP-elect, Norbert Mao has pledged to change how Parliament determines its business if elected Speaker of the 12th Parliament, to a system which largely reflects the agenda of the general public.
While explaining his bid during a press conference on Tuesday, Mao said Parliament should deliberately prioritize a public agenda, alongside issues raised by the opposition, so that debates and decisions directly address concerns affecting the ordinary people of Uganda.
He said the shift would ensure that Parliament discusses matters that reflect the needs of citizens, instead of focusing mainly on government business.
Mao also proposed the consistent use of electronic voting in Parliament on matters requiring a decision, saying this would create a clear and verifiable record of how each MP votes.
According to him, such a system would prevent MPs from later denying their positions and would allow voters to track whether their representatives acted in line with public expectations. Mao said increased transparency in voting would strengthen accountability by making it easier for voters to assess the performance of their leaders.
On his chances of becoming the speaker of the 12th Parliament, Mao said his approach has not been fully understood by many observers, describing his strategy as one where not all elements are visible, noting that some aspects of his campaign remain undisclosed.
“I have may cards, and most of them are facing down. You can’t know my next move and that will surprise many when I become speaker,” Mao said, further adding that those who believe they fully understand him do not have a complete picture, and that his leadership approach would become clearer if he assumes office.
Mao expressed confidence that the result of the vote could differ from current expectations, maintaining that his campaign is structured in a way that may only become evident on the day of voting.
He said the direction he is proposing is aimed at repositioning Parliament to more directly reflect the interests of the public while improving transparency in its internal processes. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
