Newly elected Members of Parliament have been cautioned that failure to attend parliamentary sittings consistently could result in the loss of their seats, as Parliament reinforces strict enforcement of attendance requirements.
The warning was issued by the Clerk to Parliament, Mr Adolf Mwesige Kasaija, during an orientation session for new legislators. He emphasized that attendance is a legal obligation under the Rules of Procedure of Parliament and is central to an MP’s constitutional duty of representation.
Mr Kasaija cautioned that any Member of Parliament who misses 15 consecutive plenary sittings without written permission from the Speaker risks being declared to have vacated their seat.
“You risk losing your legislative seat if you miss 15 consecutive parliamentary sittings without written permission from the Speaker,” he said.
The Clerk stressed that the requirement is intended to ensure discipline, accountability, and active participation in parliamentary business, including lawmaking, oversight, and representation of citizens.
Parliament officials noted that attendance monitoring has been strengthened in recent years, with strict record-keeping and follow-up on unexplained absences.
The warning comes amid ongoing concerns over absenteeism in the House, which has at times affected the smooth conduct of parliamentary business, including delays in debates and disruptions in plenary sessions.
Under parliamentary procedure, MPs who anticipate prolonged absence due to official duties, illness, or other valid reasons are required to obtain written permission from the Speaker in advance.
Parliamentary leadership has maintained that failure to comply with attendance requirements may trigger disciplinary action, including the possibility of declaring a seat vacant.
