"Whatever we do as parliaments should be people-centric": Ugandan MP Joel Ssenyonyi at BRICS Parliamentary Forum
At the BRICS Parliamentary Forum in New Delhi, Ugandan MP Joel Ssenyonyi calls for laws and budgets to prioritize the needs of ordinary citizens.
In a powerful call for legislative accountability, Ugandan Member of Parliament Joel Ssenyonyi has urged global leaders to ensure that every law, budget, and policy is designed with the citizen at its core. Speaking on the sidelines of the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in New Delhi, Ssenyonyi emphasized that the ultimate measure of a parliament's success is whether the people see themselves reflected in the decisions made by their leaders.
Putting People First: The Core Mission
The theme of the current summit, 'Fostering Parliaments for People-Centric Development,' resonated deeply with Ssenyonyi. He questioned the impact of legislative actions, asking whether the policies being crafted are truly serving the public interest.
"Whatever we do as leaders, as parliaments, should be about the people," Ssenyonyi stated. "The laws that we pass, the budgets that we pass, the policies that we come up with—are they people-centric? Do the people see themselves through those policies, through those laws?"
For the Ugandan MP, the goal is simple yet profound: putting the welfare of ordinary citizens at the forefront of every governmental action to combat systemic challenges such as poverty and healthcare gaps, particularly across the African continent.
The Global Weight of BRICS
Ssenyonyi highlighted the immense influence of the BRICS bloc, noting that it represents a massive demographic and economic force. With member countries controlling approximately 40% of the global GDP and accounting for nearly half of the world's population (49.5%), the bloc provides a critical foundation for nations to connect, exchange innovative ideas, and elevate leadership standards.
India as a Model for Growth and Healthcare
During his visit to New Delhi, Ssenyonyi expressed admiration for India's scale and its rapid advancements. He specifically pointed to India's healthcare sector as a beacon of success, noting that many Ugandans travel to India for medical treatment.
He remarked that with a population of over 1.4 billion, India plays a critical role on the global stage. Ssenyonyi believes that international exchanges allow developing nations to draw vital lessons from India's experience in governance and infrastructure growth.
A Call for Mutual Accountability
Beyond the exchange of ideas, Ssenyonyi stressed that high-level forums must lead to tangible results. He argued that leaders should hold one another accountable for the promises made during these summits.
He suggested that future meetings should include a review process to ensure that leaders actually returned home and implemented the "people-centric" approaches discussed in previous sessions.
About the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum
The two-day conference, inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi and chaired by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, brought together delegations from 11 member countries and 10 partner nations. The forum is designed to strengthen legislative bodies and foster deliberations on democratic values.
The event features four high-level thematic sessions focusing on:
- Resilience: Building stronger institutional frameworks.
- Innovation: Exploring the role of legislative oversight in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and emerging digital technologies.
- Cooperation: Enhancing mutual respect and dialogue between nations.
- Sustainability: Working toward global sustainable development goals.