By Teddy Namayanja
Parliament has granted permission to MP Richard Lumu, the Mityana South legislator from the Democratic Party, to proceed with the private member’s bill, the Administration of Parliamentary Bill 2024, which among others seeks to have the Leader of the Opposition (LOP) elected by opposition legislators, a move Lumu argues will correct what he views as a biased and undemocratic current system.
The permission was granted during today’s plenary session.
Lumu reaffirmed his commitment to pushing the bill forward, which sparked opposition from legislators led by the Lwemiyaga County MP, Theodre Ssekikubo who had previously petitioned for the reshuffle of parliamentary commissioners over their acceptance of 1.7billion Shs in Service Awards for their work in the house but were dissatisfied with Deputy Speaker Tayebwa’s ruling that the court had already decided on the matter.
The legislators argue that Tayebwa merely read a prepared statement, and they demand a formal ruling after the motion is placed on the order paper.
“We insist and demand that our petition be put on the order paper and a ruling be made on the matter. We cannot accept mere statements. Parliament has its rules of procedure, and they must be adhered to” Ssekikubo said.
Frustrated Allion Adriko, MP Aringa South, also demanded that “our petition must be put on the order paper and a ruling made here. It’s unbelievable that within a period of one month, Lumu has been granted permission, but our petition has not even been heard. Does this house have special members whose proposals or petitioned are considered while others are left out?” He asked.
This petition was initially submitted three months ago. The controversy surrounding the parliamentary commissioners’ censure motion has been ongoing, with some members opposing the move, citing it as an illegal proposal.
The situation highlights the tensions within Uganda’s parliament, particularly regarding the composition and conduct of the Parliamentary Commission. The commission’s constitution and powers are outlined in Article 87A of the Constitution. The current commission includes the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and other members, with responsibilities for overseeing parliamentary affairs.
Key issues at play include:
- Censure Motion: Legislators seek to remove four parliamentary commissioners, citing misconduct and abuse of office ⁴.
- Reshuffle Demand: MPs want the Deputy Speaker to revisit their petition for reshuffling commissioners
- Constitutional Framework: The Parliamentary Commission’s role and powers are defined in the Constitution
As the situation unfolds, it’s clear that Uganda’s parliamentary dynamics are complex and contentious. The outcome of MP Lumu’s Public Amendment Bill, 2024 and the commissioners’ censure motion remains uncertain.
