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

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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

viii

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

ix

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

X

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  

ABSTRACT This study examines the "role of parliament in executing its legislative mandate in Uganda". The study was guided by the following objectives: to examine the role of parliament in the legislative process; to analyze the legislative benchmarks from other African regional parliaments; to identify key recommendations for effective functioning of Ugandan parliament. Respondents exposed the role of parliament in executing the legislative mandate in Uganda. The results showed that parliament has significantly played the role of law making, oversight and the financial function. Data was collected from a sample of 90 respondents using self-administered questionnaires and was later analyzed. The findings revealed that parliament has a positive role in executing the legislative mandate in Uganda hence had a positive and significant relationship in legislative mandate. The study concludes that majority of the respondents agreed that parliament contributes significantly towards executing the legislative mandate in Uganda. Furthermore the findings show that the parliament of Uganda has learnt a lot from the Pan African Parliament, EALA and European Parliament. Additionally the findings show that the parliament of Uganda is faced with challenges affecting its effective functioning which include political system, electoral system, formal parliament powers, good will and political space, parliamentary technical capacity, democracy, multi-party politics, socio-cultural environment and the influence of development partners.

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APA

HAKIM, N (2022). An Examination of the Role of Parliament in Executing Its Legislative Mandate in Uganda. Afribary. Retrieved from https://afribary.com/works/an-examination-of-the-role-of-parliament-in-executing-its-legislative-mandate-in-uganda

MLA 8th

HAKIM, NSAMBA "An Examination of the Role of Parliament in Executing Its Legislative Mandate in Uganda" Afribary. Afribary, 11 Aug. 2022, https://afribary.com/works/an-examination-of-the-role-of-parliament-in-executing-its-legislative-mandate-in-uganda. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

MLA7

HAKIM, NSAMBA . "An Examination of the Role of Parliament in Executing Its Legislative Mandate in Uganda". Afribary, Afribary, 11 Aug. 2022. Web. 29 Mar. 2024. < https://afribary.com/works/an-examination-of-the-role-of-parliament-in-executing-its-legislative-mandate-in-uganda >.

Chicago

HAKIM, NSAMBA . "An Examination of the Role of Parliament in Executing Its Legislative Mandate in Uganda" Afribary (2022). Accessed March 29, 2024. https://afribary.com/works/an-examination-of-the-role-of-parliament-in-executing-its-legislative-mandate-in-uganda