NOWHERE TO SIT! MPs Forced to Sit on Floor as Parliament Runs Out of Space

KAMPALA — Uganda’s Parliament is facing an embarrassing space crisis, with some Members of Parliament being forced to sit on the floor, occupy seats in the public gallery, or stand in doorways during plenary sessions due to severe overcrowding in the legislative chamber.

The situation has become a growing concern among lawmakers, many of whom say the current parliamentary chamber is no longer fit for purpose given the increasing size of the House.

The chamber, which was originally designed to accommodate approximately 80 legislators, is now expected to serve a Parliament comprising more than 529 members. The mismatch between the available space and the number of lawmakers has resulted in a daily struggle for seats whenever Parliament convenes.

Under the existing first-come, first-served seating arrangement, lawmakers often arrive early to secure places in the chamber. Those who arrive later are sometimes left searching for seats, while others are forced to squeeze into already crowded sections or seek space in the public gallery.

The problem has been particularly evident among members of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), who form the largest bloc in Parliament. With limited seating available on the government side, some NRM legislators have frequently found themselves occupying seats traditionally used by opposition lawmakers, creating occasional tensions inside the House.

The worsening congestion has sparked complaints from several MPs, led by the Leader of the Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi, who questioned why lawmakers continue to endure such conditions despite years of discussion about constructing a new parliamentary chamber.

Ssenyonyi challenged parliamentary administrators to explain the continued delays surrounding the long-promised project, arguing that the overcrowding was affecting the dignity and effectiveness of Parliament.

The concerns prompted intervention from Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oboth Oboth, who directed the Clerk to Parliament to urgently provide answers regarding the stalled project.

The Speaker issued an ultimatum requiring parliamentary officials to present a comprehensive status report on the multi-billion-shilling construction of new parliamentary chambers, a project that has remained in limbo despite repeated assurances over the years.

Oboth Oboth’s directive signals growing impatience within Parliament over the lack of progress on infrastructure intended to accommodate Uganda’s expanding legislature.

The planned chambers were expected to offer a modern facility capable of housing all lawmakers comfortably while providing improved working conditions for MPs, parliamentary staff and visitors. However, delays in implementation have left Parliament operating from facilities that many lawmakers say are overstretched and no longer adequate.

The overcrowding challenge comes at a time when public attention is increasingly focused on government spending, accountability and the delivery of major infrastructure projects. Questions are now being raised about what has caused the prolonged delays and whether taxpayers will eventually see value from funds allocated toward the proposed parliamentary expansion.

For many legislators, the issue goes beyond mere inconvenience. They argue that a Parliament where elected representatives are forced to sit on floors or stand during proceedings does not reflect the stature of the country’s highest lawmaking institution.

With the Speaker demanding an urgent report, attention now turns to parliamentary administrators and whether they can provide clear answers on the future of the long-delayed project.

Until then, Uganda’s growing Parliament continues to grapple with a simple but striking problem: too many MPs and not enough seats.

Yesterday, Speaker Jacob Oboth Oboth has blasted his predecessors for failing to build new parliament chambers even when there was enough money to do so, as reported Here.

Oboth Oboth has also decried witchcraft in parliament, asking Ugandans for prayers, as reported Here.

You can see the names of the 529 MPs of the 12^th parliament and cabinet members who sit in parliament Here and There.