Speaker Anitah dismisses opposition absence, guides with independents and UPDF presence, house is complete

GalaxyfmSept 30, 2021Read original

Deputy Speaker Anitah Among has guided that the absence of opposition in the house can not stop Parliament business from going ahead.

For the second session in a row, Members of the opposition are not attending Parliament sessions. Leader of Opposition Mathias Mpuuga on Tuesday rallied his team to walk out of the house in protest of the rearrest of two of their members Allan Ssewanyana (Makindye West) and Muhammad Ssegirinya (Kawempe North).

Mpuuga was angered by the statement submitted by the Attorney General Kiwanuka Kiryowa in the house arguing that police had the liberty to rearrest Ssewanyana and Ssegirinya as many times as the cases against them.

Kiwanuka submitted: “They can go back as many times as the offences they commit. MPs will be presented in court. They can be rearrested as many times as the offences they commit.”

An outraged Leader of Opposition, Mpuuga, before leading his team out, blasted: “The families of the two MPs have been denied access to them. Ssewanyana hasn’t been produce in court beyond the 48 hours and we are here legislating normally.”

Both MPs were rearrested last week and this week after courts handed them bails. The Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah questioned the rearrest of the MPs.

Oulanyah blasted: “Can we just do things right? The biggest problem is the technical people who rush to implement. The Constitution is clear on procedure. Why flout the rules! Can we just do things right?”

Deputy Speaker Among who chaired Thursday’s sitting urged the Members present to sit on either side of the House.

She barked orders: “Members, it’s free sitting.” However, Theodore Ssekikubo, ruling NRM party MP raised a concerned by the absence of members of opposition in the house.

Ssekikubo said: “The members of the NRM cannot continue sitting and debating among themselves without members of the opposition which he says negates some constitutional provisions.”

In response to Lwemiyaga County MP, Among guided that it is not only NRM MPs in the house as there are independent MPs, UPDF MPs and thus the house was fully constituted to proceed.

Government spokesman Chris Baryomunsi informed the house that quorum of the house is not about political parties but rather numbers.

Dr. Baryomunsi said: “Even if it is only NRM or any political party and there is quorum in the house, plenary will always proceed.”