What Parliament Induction Revealed About Civilian Oversight of the UPDF

Parliament held a five-day induction seminar for Members of Parliament and ministers from June 30 to July 4, 2026, aimed at equipping legislators with the knowledge, values and procedures needed to effectively execute their constitutional responsibilities during the 2026–2031 term.

The induction, held at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala, was officially opened by the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Jacob Marksons Oboth-Oboth, who urged legislators to uphold integrity, embrace evidence-based lawmaking and promote results-oriented budgeting.

Maj. Gen. Matsiko said the 1995 Constitution places Parliament at the centre of civilian authority over the defence sector

On the second day of the seminar, Maj. Gen. Henry Matsiko, the Joint Staff Political Commissariat and one of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) representatives in Parliament, delivered a presentation on behalf of the Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs, Hon. Kiryowa Kiwanuka, on Parliament’s strategic role in defence and national stability.

Maj. Gen. Matsiko said the 1995 Constitution places Parliament at the centre of civilian authority over the defence sector through legislation, oversight and approval of defence budgets.

“Article 210 empowers Parliament to make laws regulating the UPDF, including its structure, recruitment, discipline, terms and conditions of service, as well as the deployment of troops outside Uganda,” he said.

He noted that Parliament’s oversight responsibility is vital in ensuring accountability within the security sector while maintaining a balance between military capability, democratic governance and constitutional rule.

Maj. Gen. Matsiko said Parliament plays a critical role in safeguarding civilian oversight of the armed forces through lawmaking, scrutiny of defence expenditure and holding security institutions accountable, while ensuring respect for human rights and constitutional governance.

He also highlighted the UPDF’s contribution to securing successive electoral processes and defeating insurgencies, saying the force has played a major role in sustaining peace and stability since the promulgation of the 1995 Constitution.

“Whereas Parliament, through its law-making role, establishes national values and norms, those values and norms must be preserved and defended by the defence and security forces,” he said.

Uganda’s 12th Parliament comprises 555 members, including 10 UPDF representatives: Lt. Gen. Sam Okiding, Lt. Gen. Sam Kavuma, Lt. Gen. James Mugira, Maj. Gen. Henry Matsiko, Maj. Gen. James Kinalwa, Maj. Gen. Joseph Ssemwanga, Brig. David Robert Gonyi, Col. Sylvia Meeme, Col. Christine Nekesa and Col. Night Ikiriza.