{UAH} The Observer - MPs' education sparks debate
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The Observer - MPs' education sparks debate
Sunday, 12 October 2014 20:46
This finding dilutes a widely-held view that blames the often poor quality of debate in the House to low academic qualifications.
According to our analysis covering all 375 MPs, excluding the 11 ex-officio ministers, at least 175 MPs hold a university degree, 139 a master's degree, while only 10 have A-level or its equivalent as their highest qualification.
At least 25 MPs are diploma holders and eight hold doctorate degrees (PhD).
Those with PhDs include Maj Gen Julius Oketa (UPDF), Rev Fr Deusdedit Jacinto Ogwal (Otuke), Gabriel Adjedra (Arua municipality), Prof Gilbert Bukenya (Busiro North), Khiddu Makubuya (Katikamu South), John Chrysostom Muyingo (Bamunanika), Zarubabel Nyiira Mijumbi (Buruuli) and Michael Mukula (Soroti municipality).
The A-level and other certificate holders include Ahmed Awong (Koboko),Christopher Acire (Gulu municipality) John Kamara Nzeyimana, Proscovia Alengot (Usuk), Jimmy Akena (Lira municipality), Stephen Mayende (Bukooli South), Joshua Carter Anywarach (Padyere), Peter Omolo (Soroti) and Nelson Sabila (Kongasis).
To enrich their qualifications, some MPs attached certificates earned from workshops. These include Naome Evelyn Mpagi Kabuule (Luuka) who holds a certificate in "start your own business course."
But Kabuule also holds an MA in Human Resource Management. Besides her MA in Demography, Sheema Woman MP Rosemary Nyakikongoro also holds a certificate in communicating information and good practice to policymakers. Apac Woman MP Lucy Ajok, in addition to her master's degree in chemical engineering from Isapaje, Cuba, also holds a certificate in housing management and maintenance.
On top of his two diplomas in clearing and forwarding, and modern management and administration, Sam Engola, also minister of state for Housing, holds a certificate in leadership and public speaking.
Qualifications of by-election winners such as Rose Mutonyi Masaba (Bubulo West), Stephen Kangwagye (Bukanga), Oliver Koyekyenga (Buhweju) and Florence Andiru Nebanda, are not included in the directory nor on the Parliament website.
Amendment
Also, there is no indication that the qualifications, as submitted by the MPs, have been vetted to ascertain their authenticity. Article 80(1)(c) of the Constitution sets A-level or its equivalent as the minimum academic requirement for one to become an MP. In March, Ajuri MP Hamson Obua tried and failed to champion an amendment that would have raised it to at least a university degree.
Obua argued that raising the bar would help improve the quality of MPs and thus the debates in the House. However, Obua's idea was shot down by deputy Attorney General Freddie Ruhindi, who said the government would not support such a move.
Ruhindi, argued that without necessarily changing the minimum qualification, there is a wide spectrum of graduates for the electorate to choose from.
"The House is still largely composed of people with at least one university degree without disqualifying anyone with the basic minimum," Ruhindi told The Observer on Friday.
Poor debate
According to a report produced by the Prof Fredrick Ssempebwa-led Constitutional Review Commission of 2005, 80 per cent of MPs in the Seventh Parliament had university degrees, which was an improvement from the 70 per cent in the sixth Parliament. At 86 per cent in the ninth Parliament, our analysis shows a six per cent improvement in the number of MPs with university degrees.
The 1995 Constitution was the first to set a minimum academic qualification for an MP. Previously, candidates were vetted on whether they could effectively communicate at the constituency, national and international levels.
In July, deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanyah sharply criticized the low quality of debate in Parliament that lacked research. Former minister and Samia Bugwe North MP Aggrey Awori says the process through which MPs are elected is to blame for the poor debate.
"People who come to Parliament are not necessarily the best among graduates. The problem is with [the regime] replacing elections with selection," Awori said on Saturday.
"Because the big man [Museveni] does not mind who comes to Parliament so long as he will vote for what he wants, you have MPs who can't comprehend what is going on," Awori added.
Awori further argued that far too many NRM MPs lack the courage to debate freely.
"You can't expect qualitative debate from them; even some of the ministers can't defend their bills simply because they don't understand the contents," Awori said.
sadabkk@observer.ug
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