The Speaker of Uganda’s Parliament, Annet Anita Among, emphasized the importance of transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement in the functioning of East African Parliaments. Speaking at the opening of the two-day East African Regional Parliamentary Monitoring Organisations conference in Kampala, she urged Parliaments within the African Parliamentary Monitoring Organisations Network (APMON) to prioritize these principles for effective democratic governance.
Among stressed the need for greater collaboration between Parliamentary Monitoring Organizations (PMOs) and Parliaments to enhance openness and constructive engagement. She highlighted the vital role of effective monitoring of legislative performance in the evolution and improvement of Parliaments, particularly in the digital age where technology facilitates access to information and citizen participation.
Organized under the theme ‘digital technology and parliamentary monitoring; reimagining futures and possibilities’, the conference brought together stakeholders actively involved in monitoring parliaments across the East African region and beyond. The event aimed to explore the transformative potential of digital technologies in promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance.
Caroline Gaito, Executive Director of Mzalendo Trust in Kenya, underscored the critical role of technology in ensuring government transparency, citizen access to services, and engagement with Parliament. She emphasized the need for PMOs to leverage technology to hold Parliaments accountable while addressing challenges such as misinformation and disinformation.
Timothy Chemonges, Associate Director at the Centre for Policy Analysis (CEPA), urged parliament monitoring forums to embrace digital technologies to advance their work and shape the future of parliamentary democracy. He emphasized the importance of fostering transparent and inclusive governance for the benefit of all citizens.
Winnie Kizza, former Leader of the Opposition, highlighted challenges in accessing information within Uganda’s Parliament, noting gaps in transparency and accountability. She called for greater transparency in Parliament’s actions and decisions to inspire public confidence and discourage impunity.
The conference served as a platform to reimagine the role of parliamentary monitoring organizations in light of evolving digital technology. Participants shared experiences and insights on enhancing parliamentary democracy through initiatives such as the open parliament index.
Overall, the event emphasized the importance of transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement in strengthening democratic governance across East Africa. It underscored the imperative for Parliaments to embrace digital technologies to enhance transparency and responsiveness to citizen needs and aspirations.
