Winnie Kiiza showed us ‘mature’ to retire from elective politics, here are the longest serving MPs in the 10th parliament

Kasese District Woman Member of Parliament, Hon Winnie Kiiza yesterday showed us ‘mature’ as she announced that she is quitting elective politics having served in various political positions for over 15 years.

Winnie’s gesture has been applauded by the masses saying many leaders should pick a leaf and always give opportunity to other leaders to also serve their country. But since Uganda has no term limits for MPs, many legislators have been re-elected back to the August House for over three terms.

There are many long serv­ing MPs who were ousted in this 10^th Par­lia­ment, Oth­ers opted out like  Amama Mbabazi and  John Nasasira and those that lost; Ge­of­frey Ekanya (FDC), Sam Ka­hamba Kutesa (NRM) Cris­pus Kiy­onga (NRM) Kahinda Orafi­ire (NRM), Henry Ka­jura Mu­ganwa (NRM), Gilbert Bukenya (NRM), Jim Muh­wezi (NRM) among oth­ers.

Here are some of the longest serving MPs in the 10^th parliament;

Speaker Rebecca Kadaga (NRM)

One of Uganda’s most powerful women, Speaker Hon Re­becca Kadaga has been Kamuli District Woman MP since 1989 and she will be seeking for re-election even in the forthcoming election. She is the first woman to be elected Speaker in the history of the Parliament of Uganda where she succeeded Edward Ssekandi, who served as Speaker from 2001 to 2011.

Og­wal Ce­cilia (UPC/FDC)

MP Og­wal Ce­cilia has been a member of Uganda’s legislature since 1996.  She’s serv­ing her 5^th term in the 10^th par­lia­ment, which is 25 years in Par­lia­ment. During the 2006 parliamentary elections, she lost her Lira Municipality seat to Jimmy Akena, the son of UPC founder Milton Obote. In 2011, Ogwal contested and won the Women’s Representative seat for the newly created Dokolo District on the FDC ticket.

Ed­ward Ssekandi (NRM)

Vice President Edward Ssekandi has served as Member of Parliament for Bukoto County Central constituency since 1996. He’s now in his fifth term and has again expressed his intentions to seek for re-election for the sixth term.

Syda Namirembe Bbumba (NRM)

Just like Ssekandi, Syda Bbumba has been representing people of Nakaseke County North since 1996. She has served in the Cabinet of Uganda as Minister of Energy and Minerals from 2002 to 2006, Minister of Gender, Labor and Social Development from 2006 to 2008, Minister of Finance from 2009 to 2011, and Minister of Gender, Labor and Social Development again from 2011 to 2012. She is the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on National Economy and also Chairperson of the Parliamentary Islamic Banking Forum.

Elly Tumwine (UPDF Representative)

Minister for Security, Elly Tumwine is one of the highest-ranking members of the Uganda People’s Defence Force and he has been representing the force in parliament since 1986. There is no clue that he will be stepping down from the position soon.

Ruth Nankabirwa (NRM)

The Chief whip of Government in parliament Hon Ruth Nankabirwa was first elected to serve as the Member of Parliament for Woman Delegate for Kiboga District in 1996 and she has concurrently held the position up date. Nankabirwa has publically confirmed how will still be in race come 2021.

Rea­gan Okum (FDC)

Reagan Okum is another one from the opposition who has been in parliament for a very long time. He has represented Aswa County from 1996 to date.

Mar­garet Babadiri (NRM)

Margaret Baba Diri was first elected into the Ugandan Parliament as a representative of people with disabilities in 1996 and she has held the position to date.

Charles Bakkabulindi (NRM)

Majority of Ugandans best know Hon Charles Bakkabulindi as the minister for sports a position he served from 2005 till this year when he was dropped. Most forget that that he has been a Workers Representative in parliament from 1996 to date.