New Members of Parliament are operating from public restaurants around Kampala and inside their motor vehicles while awaiting the distribution of office space.
Although MPs have not yet been allocated office space, only about of those who were in the 10th Parliament have retained their offices, while over 350 MPs are waiting for parliamentary processes to take shape.
According to the Parliaments Department of Communication, 323 MPs will be housed at Kingdom Kampala building, which is expected to be ready by July 15 while 100 will be accommodated in the parliamentary building and the queen’s chambers, along parliament avenue, while awaiting the completion of the multi-billion new chamber which is expected to host 600 members.
But while they wait for their offices, some Members of Parliament are operating from the corridors of parliament, the parliament canteen, restaurants outside parliament and in some cases rented offices in town, as explained by Samia Bugwe Central MP Denis Nyangwesho.
Dr Emmanuel Otala, the MP for West Budama South said that because he doesn’t have an office, he is holding his meetings from the corridors of Parliament and sometimes the Parliament canteen.
Another MP from Northern Uganda, who preferred to remain anonymous says that he decided to rent an office in town until he is given an office in Parliament. “We have now been here for more than a month. Imagine leaving like this without an office, some of my colleagues are housed in ministries where they have friends, so I decided to hire a room,” the MP said.
Kamuli Municipality MP Kayanga Baroda Watongola says that she is operating from her home in Kampala and basically doing business on phone.
MPs who have been appointed Ministers will get office space at their respective ministries.
