An Examination of the Role of Parliament in Executing Its Legislative Mandate in Uganda

Table of Contents

DECLARATION ........................................................................................................................................... ;

APPROVAL. ................................................................................................................................................. ii

DEDICATION ............................................................................................................................................. iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ........................................................................................................................... iv

LIST OF LEGISLATION ............................................................................................................................. v

National Legislation ................................................................................................................................ v

National Bills ............................................................................................................................................ v

International Legislation ........................................................................................................................ v

Other Legislation .................................................................................................................................... vi

LIST OF ACRONYMS ............................................................................................................................... vii

ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................................ xii

CHAPTER ONE ......................................................................................................................................... 13

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND ................................................................................................ 13

1.1 Introduction ................................................................ : .......................................................................... 13

1.2 Background of the study ................................................................................................................. 13

1.3 Parliaments' Legislative, Oversight and Representative ............................................................. 14

1.4 Statement of the Problem ............................................................................................................... 16

1.6 Primary objective ............................................................................................................................ 16

1.7 Specific objectives ............................................................................................................................ 17

1.8 Research questions .......................................................................................................................... 17

1.9 Hypothesis ........................................................................................................................................ 17

1.10 Literature Review .......................................................................................................................... 17

1.10.1 Parliaments in Developing Countries ....................................................................................... 17

1.1 0.2 Parliamentarians Performance .................................................................................................. 18

1.1 0.3 Parliaments and Formal Political Systems ............................................................................... 20

1.10.4 Parliaments and the Socio-Cultural Environment .................................................................... 20

1.11 Methodology .................................................................................................................................. 21

1.11.1 Research design ........................................................................................................................ 21

1.11.2 Study population ...................................................................................................................... 22

1.11.3 Selection of Respondents ......................................................................................................... 22

1.12 Data collection methods ................................................................................................................ 22

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1.12.1 Questionnaire Method .............................................................................................................. 23

1.12.2 Interview Method ..................................................................................................................... 23

1.12.3 Documentation Review Method ............................................................................................... 23

1.13 Data Processing and Analysis ....................................................................................................... 24

1.13.1 Qualitative data ........................................................................................................................ 24

1.14 Scope of the study .......................................................................................................................... 24

1.15 Gender consideration .................................................................................................................... 24

1.16 Ethical consideration ..................................................................................................................... 25

1.17 Limitations and Solutions to the Study ....................................................................................... 25

CHAPTER TWO ........................................................................................................................................ 27

THE CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK ON THE ROLE OF PARLIAMENT VISA A VIS OTHER

ARMS OF GOVERNMENT ...................................................................................................................... 27

2.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 27

2.2 Law-Making and the Principle of Separation of Powers ............................................................. 27

2.3 Law-Making of the Executive Bodies ............................................................................................ 28

2.4 Law-Making and Democracy ......................................................................................................... 32

2.5 Referendum and the Legislative Body ........................................................................................... 34

2.6 Law-Making in a 'Rule-of-Law' State ........................................................................................... 36

2.7 Law-Making in a Social State ........................................................................................................ 36

2.8 A Model of Parliamentary Power .................................................................................................. 37

2.8.1 Rubber Stamp Legislatures ........................................................................................................ 37

2.8.2 Arena Legislatures ...................................................................................................................... 37

2.8.3 Transformative Legislatures ....................................................................................................... 38

2.8.4 Emerging Legislatures ................................................................................................................ 38

2.9 Parliamentary versus Judicial Supremacy ................................................................................... 39

2.9.1 Theoretical Framework .............................................................................................................. 39

2.9.2 The Formalistic Approach .......................................................................................................... 40

2.9.3 The New Paradigm Approach .................................................................................................... 41

2.9.4 The Neo-Institutional Approach ................................................................................................. 45

2.9.5 The Rational Choice Approach .................................................................................................. 46

2.9.6 The Game Theory ....................................................................................................................... 48

2.9.7 The Principal-Agent Theory ....................................................................................................... 52

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2.9.8 The Agenda Setting Approach ............................................................... , ................................... 55

2.9.10 The Historical Approach .......................................................................................................... 58

CHAPTER THREE ..................................................................................................................................... 50

THE LEGISLATIVE BENCHMARKS ...................................................................................................... 50

1.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 60

1.2 Transformation of the Pan-African Parliament ........................................................................... 60

1.3 Lessons from the European parliament.. ...................................................................................... 62

1.4 European Parliament Legislative Powers ..................................................................................... 62

1.5 The East African Legislative Assembly ......................................................................................... 63

1.6 Probable paths to Pan African Parliament transformation ........................................................ 66

1.7 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................ 67

CHAPTER FOUR ....................................................................................................................................... 68

ROLE OF THE PARLIAMENT OF THE UGANDA IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS ..................... 68

4.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 68

4.2 Parliament of Uganda: a Historical Overview .............................................................................. 68

4.3 Legislation ........................................................................................................................................ 69

4.4 Legal Framework on the Exercise of Legislative Powers ............................................................ 70

4.5 Legislative Function in Uganda: Legal Mandate ......................................................................... 71

4.6 Financial Function of Parliament .................................................................................................. 73

4.7 Budget Review and Hearing ........................................................................................................... 73

4.8 Oversight Function .......................................................................................................................... 75

4.8.1 Public Accounts Committee (PAC) ........................................................................................... 78

4.8.2 Audit ........................................................................................................................................... 78

4.9 Legislative Process in Parliament .................................................................................................. 80

4.9.1 First reading of the Bill .............................................................................................................. 81

4.9.2 Second reading of the Bill .......................................................................................................... 82

4.9.3 Third reading of the Bill ............................................................................................................. 82

4.10 Key Challenges and to the Functioning of the Parliament.. ...................................................... 83

4.1 0.1 Parliamentary Commission in Uganda ..................................................................................... 83

4.1 0.2 Factors influencing the Legislatures Function ......................................................................... 86

4.10.3 Parliamentary Technical Capacity ................................................................ : ........................... 88

4.1 0.4 Politics, Democracy and Parliament ........................................................................................ 89

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4.10.5 Parliaments, Presidents and Multi-Party Politics ..................................................................... 90

4.1 0.6 The Nuts And Bolts of Parliamentary Administration ............................................................. 92

4.10.7 Parliament in A Multi-Party System ........................................................................................ 93

4.1 0.8 Liberal Democracy and Parliamentary Independence .............................................................. 94

4.11 Parliaments and Governance ....................................................................................................... 94

4.11.1 Parliaments and National Governance Systems ....................................................................... 95

4.11.2 Institutional Capacity ............................................................................................................... 96

4.1 1.3 Parliaments and Formal Political Systems ............................................................................... 96

4.11.4 Parliaments and the Social and Cultural Environment. ............................................................ 97

4.11.5 Parliaments and Development Partners .................................................................................... 98

CHAPTER FIVE ....................................................................................................................................... 100

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ...................................................................................... 100

5.1 Introdnction ................................................................................................................................... 100

5.2 Summary ofFindings .................................................................................................................... lOO

5.3 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................................... 100

5.4 Recommendations ......................................................................................................................... 101

BIBLIOGRAPHY ..................................................................................................................................... 104

ANNEXID ................................................................................................................................................ llO

APPENDIX: A QUESTIONNAIRE FOR RESPONDENT ..................................................................... 110