By 9:00am, a number of 310 MP’s majority from the NRM party and a few from the opposition had arrived at Kaunda playgrounds ready to attend the first historic regional plenary sitting.
At exactly 10:00am, the Speaker of Parliament led by the Surgernt at Arms made her way to the house to start the opening session. As usual, they started with a prayer after which the Speaker declared Kaunda Grounds as Parliament.
“Noting that Rule 17.1 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament provides that Parliament meets on such days and places as the Speaker determines, Now therefore under Rule 17.1 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament, I hereby proclaim that the Parliament shall sit in Kaunda Grounds in Gulu City on 28, 29, 30th of August 2024”. She proclaimed.
She immediately attacked opposition MP’s who boycotted the session and accused them. Of misinforming the country. Anita argued that the Regional sittings of Parliament were budgeted for.
“When you look at the budget of Parliament, no money was added to this sitting”. She noted.
Although opposition MP’s were expected to boycott the sittings, a number of them were from different parties attended. Three of these were from NUP.
It should be remembered that the Leader of Opposition in Parliament Joel Ssenyonyi critized the regional sittings early this month and described them as a waste of public resources.
The Committee of Parliament on infrastructure was the first to present it’s findings on the state of affairs from the region. They want government to pass a budget for the construction of Karuma-Packwachi bridge as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, Anti-Corruption activists staged a protest earlier on at Kakanyero Hotel in Gulu City where some MP’s are staying. waving placards and changing slogans, they matched from the city center to the hotel denouncing what they described as unnecessary expenditure and broader systematic corruption.
Report compiled by Teddy Namayanja. She’s a staff writer at SML News UG passionate about politics and human rights.
