Da Dona
JF-Expert Member
- Dec 16, 2025
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...Norbert Mao has reignited debate with a proposal to introduce a bicameral legislature in Uganda, a key pledge drawn from the Democratic Party 2021 manifesto.
Mao, who recently won the Laroo-pece County parliamentary seat and doubles as Democratic Party president and minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs though Opposition, argues that creating a Senate would help restore order and improve the quality of legislation in what he describes as an often chaotic lower House.
“We are proposing that there will be a Senate in Uganda to moderate what is perceived to be unruliness in the lower house,” Mao says, adding that an upper chamber would ensure stronger institutional checks and better law-making standards.
What the Proposal Entails
Beyond establishing a Senate, the DP proposal includes:
(i) Devolution of power to subregions, similar to the governance structure in Kenya, giving more autonomy and resources to regional units.
(ii)A shift from the first-past-the-post electoral system to proportional representation, a move Mao says would create a fairer and more inclusive political landscape.
(iii) A reduction in representation ratios, with one MP representing approximately 150,000 citizens , a significant restructuring of the current parliamentary model.
Uganda currently operates a unicameral Parliament with over 557 legislators. Mao contends that an upper house would act as a stabilizing force, reviewing legislation and safeguarding national interests.
As the Speakership contest unfolds, Mao’s Senate proposal has done what few policy ideas manage to achieve in Uganda’s politics: it has split opinion sharply among MPs and revived a broader conversation about the country’s constitutional architecture.
