{UAH} Ssegirinya's acts of kindness a public affairs officer's nightmare

Almost every day, there is a social media post by the new MP for Kawempe North (Kampala), Muhammad Ssegirinya carrying out an act of kindness or charity - including buying or servicing ambulances or providing food to various needy persons in his constituency.

Even before h took oath in mid-May, Ssegirinya provided essential domestic requirements and foodstuffs to individuals whose spouse had been incarcerated for different political reasons.

All these acts are commendable, as social media comments suggest. Indeed, some social media posts reveal that some enthusiasts have considered moving to Kawempe so as to benefit from the legislator's generosity. Public Affairs officers at the parliament, however, may think otherwise.

Following the swearing in of members to the 11th parliament in May, the election of the speaker and deputy speaker, the State of the Nation address and the presentation of the national budget, the House has not conducted much business.

Ordinarily, these first few weeks are dedicated to setting in place the new executive offices including: approval of the vice president, prime minister and ministers; appointment of persons to the different positions - leader of the opposition, shadow cabinet, and the constitution of standing and sectoral committees, etc.

By sitting and electing the speaker and deputy speaker, members put in place the head of both the legislative and second arm of government. This is provided for in the Constitution.

Secondly, the same House debated and approved the president's nominees for the two positions of vice president and prime minister/ leader of government business.

Additionally, parliament, through power vested in the appointments committee, vetted and approved presidential nominees to ministerial positions. Even though the committee's report is not given to the public or media, the nominees eventually swearing
in as ministers or ministers of state implied that almost all were approved.

This, too, is provided for by the Constitution. With just these few sittings, parliament played its part in setting up the new government. The government can now meet through cabinet and fully operate, and even present business to parliament.

Members go to parliament to make laws for peace, order, development and good governance of the country; to carry out oversight on the use of public funds; to appropriate funds (budget for the country) and to represent voters by presenting their views and concerns to government and seeking responses, explanations and assistance.

Outside of these is charity or corporate social responsibility. Like any other individual in the community, an MP will carry out acts of charity, out of kindness, generosity or religious obligation.

These may, especially in the current lockdown, and with seemingly little or no business or activity in the House, appear like the official, constitutional roles of a legislator.

There are several legislators who may be carrying out similar acts of charity and bringing smiles and happiness to many of their constituents.

The downside to this, however, on the side of the public affairs officers in parliament, is the impression being created that these are the official roles of members of parliament, yet they are not.

The public education campaigns being run all through the five-year term of parliament, about the roles of members of parliament are intended to change this perception, understand their constitutional roles and have the public and voters gauge the performance and suitability of a member based on their true constitutional mandate.

Ssegirinya's acts of kindness, though noble, put his colleagues who are doing different in bad light, since they will be judged using the wrong parameters. Explaining and changing the impression created by these actions to the public will remain PR nightmare!

The author works at Parliament of Uganda.

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"When a man is stung by a bee, he doesn't set off to destroy all beehives"

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