Date Set for Newly Elected MPs’ Swearing-in Ahead of Speaker Election

Parliament has set a date for the newly elected MPs’ swearing-in ahead of speaker election.

Speaker Anita Among congratulated the winners in the recently held parliamentary elections as the house convened to pay tribute to fallen colleague Stella Apolot Isodo, who was until January 17 the Ngora District Woman MP.

Speaker Anita Among said the newly elected MPs are set to be sworn in from May 13 to 15, 2026, at Parliament.

This will mark the beginning of the 12th Parliament, following the recent general elections. After the swearing-in ceremony, MPs will hold their first parliamentary session, where they will elect a new Speaker and Deputy Speaker.

It is expected that candidates who have filed election petitions will have seen them resolved before the swearing-in.

The parliamentary elections were held on January 15, 2026, alongside the presidential elections. The Electoral Commission had set the polling date as part of its electoral roadmap, with campaigns running from November 10 to January 13, 2026.

Also to be sworn in alongside the directly elected MPs and district woman MPs are legislators representing special interest groups.

Special interest groups in Uganda also have reserved parliamentary seats to ensure their voices are heard. The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has 10 representatives, with at least two women.

Other groups include workers (5 representatives, at least one woman), youth (5 representatives, at least one woman), persons with disabilities (5 representatives, at least one woman), and older persons (5 representatives, at least one woman). These seats aim to promote participatory democracy and give marginalized groups a voice in governance.

The Speaker of Parliament is elected through a secret ballot, where MPs nominate candidates and vote. The candidate with the majority votes wins. The Speaker must be an MP and is usually from the ruling party or coalition.

Speaker Anita Among and her deputy, Thomas Tayebwa, are seeking to defend their positions. Among has announced that the 2026-2031 term will be her last as Speaker, after which she will back Tayebwa as her successor.  (See Details Here).

Both Among and Tayebwa were re-elected unopposed as MPs, showcasing their strong support within the ruling party.

The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) is likely to have a significant say in who becomes the next Speaker of Parliament, given their majority win in the recent elections. With 354 seats, the NRM has a strong grip on parliament, making it easier for them to push through their preferred candidate. Tayebwa’s unopposed re-election and Among’s endorsement make him a strong contender.

Key Details

– Swearing-in Ceremony: May 13-15, 2026, at Parliament

– Leadership Election: Speaker and Deputy Speaker to be elected after swearing-in

– Parliament Composition: NRM (354), NUP (50), UPC (11), FDC (8), DP (6), PFF (2), ANT (1)

Meanwhile, tycoon Hassan Basajjabalaba’s son and Parliament newcomer Iddi Basajja has entered the race to unseat Thomas Tayebwa, as reported Here.