By Sekaggya Seka Moses
Kampala, Uganda – The number of Members of Parliament (MPs) in Uganda is set to increase ahead of the 2026 general elections, a move likely to further swell the country’s already large legislature.
Currently, Uganda has 553 MPs representing a population of 45.9 million people.
The expansion comes as the government operationalizes new cities, in addition to the existing 10 and Kampala Capital City.
In 2020, Parliament approved the creation of 15 new cities, which were supposed to become operational in phases.
However, only seven cities have been operationalized so far, with the remaining five – Entebbe, Moroto, Nakasongola, Kabale, and Wakiso – set to become operational on July 01, 2025.
The creation of these new cities will lead to the formation of new divisions or constituencies, each requiring an MP to represent them in Parliament.
The exact number of new constituencies is yet to be determined.
This development has sparked criticism from those who argue that the country’s public administration is already too large and costly.
The government recently recruited over 300 new assistant Resident District Commissioners, adding to the financial burden on taxpayers.
Despite mounting pressure from taxpayers to reduce the number of Members of Parliament, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government, which has been in power for 38 years, appears to be turning a deaf ear to their pleas.
In a recent speech, opposition leader Joel Ssenyonyi highlighted the staggering cost of running Parliament, revealing that each sitting costs a whopping 3 billion shillings – a sum that is unsustainable for Uganda’s current economy.
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