By Ben Musanje
Former Government Chief Whip and Senior Presidential Advisor-designate Dr. Canon Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu has assured Members of Parliament that President Yoweri Museveni’s decision to appoint former Health Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng as Government Chief Whip demonstrates the confidence he has in her ability to steer government business in Parliament, urging legislators to give her the support she deserves.
Speaking during the ongoing induction seminar for Members of the 12th Parliament in Kampala, Nankabirwa reflected on her own experience as Government Chief Whip, explaining that the office is one of the most influential positions in government despite many people misunderstanding its significance.
She recalled that when she was first appointed to the role in March 2015 after serving as Minister of State for Fisheries, critics dismissed the whole thing as a demotion while ignorantly portraying her new position as that of a mere “class monitor.”
However, she said she responded by reminding them that even a class monitor is selected because of the ability to lead and maintain order, adding that the Government Chief Whip is “a class above the class.” In the course of doing the role, she realized the extent to which the President attaches a lot of importance on the GCW office, something many people are unaware of.
Nankabirwa explained that the Government Chief Whip ranks among the country’s senior cabinet ministers, immediately after the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Ministers, and possesses enormous authority if the holder understands how to exercise effectively the power that comes with occupying that office. She noted that during her tenure she always ensured that the office was used to strengthen coordination between Parliament, Cabinet and the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
She reminded legislators that the Government Chief Whip automatically chairs the NRM Parliamentary Caucus, making the office holder a member of the party’s Central Executive Committee without having to contest for the position. According to Nankabirwa, this gives the Chief Whip considerable influence because committee leadership, committee membership and parliamentary commissioners are first scrutinized through party structures before being presented to CEC for approval.
The former Chief Whip advised MPs not to underestimate the office, warning that members who ignore the guidance of the whip may later require the same office when parliamentary committee assignments and leadership positions are being determined. She stressed that both the Government and Opposition Chief Whips play indispensable roles in mobilizing legislators, coordinating voting, communicating party positions and ensuring smooth parliamentary business.
Drawing from her own record, Nankabirwa highlighted some of the reforms she introduced to improve government coordination in Parliament. She revealed that while serving as Government Chief Whip she successfully persuaded Cabinet to move its weekly meetings from Wednesday to Monday after realizing that ministers were routinely absent from Parliament because Cabinet sessions coincided with plenary sittings.
The adjustment, she said, ensured ministers remained available to answer questions and transact government business on Wednesdays when Parliament sits. She also initiated liaison officers in ministries to strengthen communication between ministries and Parliament.
She further observed that effective whipping requires exceptional public relations skills and respect for members from both the ruling party and the Opposition. According to her, a Chief Whip who lacks the ability to build relationships and attract colleagues through persuasion rather than intimidation risks weakening parliamentary coordination. Respecting alternative leaders and opposition legislators, she added, helps maintain cooperation in the House.
Nankabirwa also cautioned legislators against corruption, describing integrity as one of the greatest assets any parliamentarian can possess. She said corruption scandals not only destroy an individual member’s reputation but also tarnish the image of Parliament and affect entire families. She thanked God that throughout her years in Parliament and Cabinet she had never been drawn into corruption, encouraging MPs to protect the public trust bestowed upon them.
As she concluded her address, Nankabirwa reminded MPs that parliamentary whipping remains an internationally recognized governance tool that strengthens legislation, representation and oversight. She urged members to support whoever occupies the office of Government Chief Whip, saying Parliament functions best when the institution works in harmony and legislators remember that their election is not merely a personal achievement but a public trust to serve Ugandans. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
