Members of Parliament have been urged to ground their scrutiny of security agencies in evidence, constitutional principles and institutional accountability, as emerging cyber threats demand more technically informed oversight.
Maj Gen Joseph Musoke Ssemwanga, the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) representative in Parliament and Commander of the UPDF Reserve Force, cautioned legislators against allowing personal grievances to influence their engagement with security personnel.
“We have been told of instances where Members of Parliament bring their personal grudges on members of security,” Ssemwanga said during a two-day induction workshop for the Defence and Internal Affairs Committee at Speke Resort Munyonyo on Friday.
He urged MPs to separate individual disputes from their institutional responsibilities, saying interactions with security personnel “should never be personal but rather be based on principle.
”Members should be able to “freely interact with security personnel without necessarily being confrontational,” he added.
The remarks, delivered on the second day of the workshop chaired by committee chairperson Robinah Rwakoojo, the Gomba West legislator, placed the emphasis on constructive engagement as Parliament begins its oversight work on defence, internal security and related institutions.
Article 210 of 1995 Constitution mandates Parliament to enact laws regulating the UPDF, including its structures, recruitment, appointments, promotions, discipline, terms and conditions of service, and deployment of troops outside the country.
Articles 208 and 209 further establish the constitutional character and functions of the defence forces, including their subordination to civilian authority, protection of national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and cooperation with civilian authorities during emergencies and natural disasters.
The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces Act, 2005, as amended, gives effect to this framework. The provisions make parliamentary oversight a constitutional responsibility rather than a discretionary exercise.
The committee must therefore be able to question security institutions firmly while observing appropriate procedures for handling sensitive operational information.
Ssemwanga said security was a collective responsibility extending beyond uniformed personnel, with legislators also playing a role in understanding threats and ensuring that national security decisions are approached responsibly.
Committee Chairperson Rwakoojo said the induction was intended to equip MPs with the knowledge required to engage ministries, departments, agencies and security organs more effectively.
For the committee, Rwakooja said: “This means interrogating not only operational successes but also the adequacy of resources, the treatment of personnel, the effectiveness of investigations and whether security institutions are meeting their legal obligations.”
Dr Anne Abaho, Dean of the School of Social Sciences at Nkumba University and a security studies specialist, challenged legislators to strengthen their ability to interpret data and assess emerging threats.
She argued that contemporary security challenges extend beyond conventional military deployments and physical protection to include cyberattacks, data breaches, digital warfare and other threats that can affect critical infrastructure and public institutions.
“Whether they like numbers or not, they have to be forced to interpret them,” Abaho said, underscoring the need for MPs to interrogate technical evidence rather than rely exclusively on verbal briefings.
She pointed to a growing challenge for parliamentary oversight in which security threats increasingly require an understanding of technology, risk assessments, intelligence-related data and the capabilities of institutions responsible for detecting and responding to attacks.
Abaho advocated a culture of preparedness, saying “one should always imagine that danger is close,” and proposed legislation to strengthen proactive security readiness. She also highlighted forensic science as an increasingly important tool for investigations, evidence gathering, accountability and the protection of human rights.
Abaho also called for greater attention to the relationship between security institutions, oversight bodies and the personnel expected to implement security mandates. She recalled that the Uganda Human Rights Commission had previously enjoyed relatively open access to security facilities and personnel without prior notice, but said reservations had emerged over time.
She encouraged committee members to insist on direct interaction with security personnel, particularly when examining welfare concerns. Such engagement could help MPs assess working conditions, access to essential services, the adequacy of equipment and other factors that affect personnel performance.
The committee’s induction comes amid complex security dynamics across the Great Lakes and Horn of Africa regions, where armed groups, cross-border insecurity and competition over resources continue to pose challenges.
Uganda participates in regional security initiatives, including the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), the East African Standby Force and operations involving neighbouring countries, including Operation Shujaa in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Operation Mlinzi wa Kimya in South Sudan.
These engagements raise questions for Parliament about deployment mandates, financing, troop welfare, operational objectives and the political and humanitarian consequences of military action beyond Uganda’s borders.
The scale of displacement in the region also reinforces the link between national security and humanitarian concerns. Uganda hosted approximately 2.05 million refugees and asylum-seekers as of September 30, 2026, according to figures published by the Office of the Prime Minister and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
The refugee population, alongside border insecurity and regional conflicts, creates demands on public institutions and host communities that extend beyond military responses to include policing, humanitarian coordination and the protection of vulnerable populations.
The facilitators urged MPs to combine institutional cooperation with rigorous analysis, arguing that security is a national concern requiring collaboration, preparedness and respect for professional expertise-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
