Speaker of Parliament Jacob Marksons Oboth has appointed new leaders to key sub-committees of the Parliamentary Commission as Uganda’s 12th Parliament begins its administrative work.
The appointments were made during the Commission’s first meeting, placing four backbench Commissioners in charge of committees responsible for human resources, finance, audit and parliamentary pensions.
The Parliamentary Commission is the body responsible for the organisation, administration and strategic guidance of Parliament. It is chaired by the Speaker and is mandated, among other functions, to oversee parliamentary staffing, financial estimates, staff welfare and the facilities required for Parliament to operate effectively.
Under the new assignments, Otuke Woman MP Susan Jolly Abeja Okello will chair the Sub-committee on Human Resource, while Manjiya County MP John Baptist Nambeshe will head the Sub-committee on Audit.
Napak Woman MP Faith Nakut has been appointed chairperson of the Sub-committee on Finance, Planning and Administration, while Adjumani Woman MP Jessica Ababiku will represent the Parliamentary Commission on the Parliamentary Pension Scheme.
All four are among the backbench Commissioners of the 12th Parliament. Parliament lists Nakut, Abeja, Ababiku and Nambeshe as the four backbench members of the Commission, which is chaired by Oboth.
Focus on staffing and accountability
The sub-committees provide specialised oversight of the Commission’s administrative responsibilities. Their work includes examining human-resource policies, recruitment and staff welfare, scrutinising financial plans and expenditure, auditing financial processes and overseeing parliamentary facilities and infrastructure.
The assignments come as the new Parliament establishes its administrative structures. Parliament completed the constitution of its major committees and designated members to various parliamentary bodies in July, laying the institutional foundation for the 12th Parliament’s legislative and oversight work.
Abeja said the Human Resource Sub-committee would begin by examining Parliament’s staffing situation.
“The Speaker has tasked us to be transparent and ensure that we deliver on our mandate. As Human Resource, we shall start with a comprehensive audit to streamline staffing.”
Her remarks point to an initial focus on establishing a clearer picture of Parliament’s staffing needs and structures before implementing further human-resource measures.
Nambeshe, meanwhile, pledged to tighten financial accountability under the Audit Sub-committee, saying financial processes would be subjected to proper scrutiny and conducted above board.
The emphasis on accountability mirrors Oboth’s earlier stated commitment to strengthening the institutional performance of Parliament. In July, he said the Parliamentary Commission would support oversight committees through stronger institutional arrangements and internal funding, with the stated aim of safeguarding the independence of parliamentary work and strengthening public trust.
The Parliamentary Commission has broad administrative powers, including appointing and disciplining parliamentary staff, reviewing their terms and conditions of service, preparing Parliament’s annual revenue and expenditure estimates, and providing the staff and facilities necessary for the institution to function.
With the new sub-committee leadership now in place, the focus shifts to how the Commissioners translate those responsibilities into administrative reforms, tighter financial oversight and improved management of Parliament’s workforce and infrastructure.
