BUHWEJU/KAMPALA– Deputy Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa’s call to “Take Parliament to the people” has come alive in Buhweju District, where Woman Member of Parliament Hon. Nnamara Annet Oyes Byamukama has brought the Committee on Gender, Labour and Social Development closer to the people.
Tayebwa made the call while opening a quarterly meeting of sectoral committee chairpersons, regional and zonal whips at Mestil Hotel in Kampala, convened by Government Chief Whip Jane Ruth Aceng. He urged committees to go to the field and be felt by communities, saying it will improve legislative debates, strengthen oversight and enhance Parliament’s image.
> “Can we take Parliament to the people? That will help improve the image of Parliament. The best way to take Parliament to the people is not people coming to Parliament,” Tayebwa said.
BUHWEJU RESIDENTS HAPPY TO MEET COMMITTEE
In Buhweju, residents have welcomed the move, saying they are happy to interact not only with their Woman MP Hon. Nnamara Annet Oyes Byamukama, but with the full committee to know what they are entitled to and how to access government programmes.
Hon Annet Oyes speaking during a committee meeting.
According to the October 2026 oversight checklist seen by *www.theserverug.com*, the committee is undertaking an oversight visit to Western Uganda to assess four key Government programmes implemented as Revolving Funds under the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development:
1. Youth Livelihood Programme (YLP) & Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme (UWEP):
Started in FY 2013/14 and 2015/16 respectively, the programmes were designed to address youth and women unemployment, limited access to affordable credit, and limited technical and market information.
The committee is establishing whether budget allocation is adequate, whether enterprises undergo full appraisal and approval by Sub-county and District Local Governments, whether youth undergo training prior to receiving funds, whether leaders sign memoranda and financial agreements, and whether composition of beneficiaries — youth 18-30 years and women 18-79 years, especially vulnerable groups — is adhered to.
The team is also examining District monitoring mechanisms, how youth and women perceive the programme, whether technical experts are adequately equipped, and challenges including those flagged by the Auditor General’s 2016 report such as lack of accounting framework, low recovery rate, non-traceable projects, non-compliance with recovery schedules and lack of repayment.
2. National Special Grant for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs):
A flagship programme allocated additional funding in FY 2019/2020 to support PWDs with start-up capital. The committee is checking adequacy of the grant, availability of an up-to-date district PWD database, gaps in design and oversight, trainings provided, grievance handling mechanisms, and challenges faced by PWDs in accessing the grant.
3. GROW Project – Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises:
Funded by the World Bank through IDA, became effective on January 20, 2023 and expected to conclude on December 31, 2027, implemented by Ministry of Gender and Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU).
The committee is ascertaining status and progress in the district, eligibility — including whether PWDs and refugee women qualify — products and services offered, which sectors are eligible, whether women groups can apply, which institutions offer GROW loans, requirements, bank charges, repayment period, whether women without collateral can access loans, and number of beneficiaries.
Sources indicate that although the checklist was comprehensive,the committee could not finish the exercise due to limited time, leaving some key interactions incomplete.
Despite that, Buhweju residents say the visit by the Gender Committee, championed by Hon. Nnamara Annet Oyes Byamukama, has already demystified Parliament and made government entitlements clearer at the grassroots — exactly what Deputy Speaker Tayebwa advocated for.
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