LAST WEEK IN PARLIAMENT (17th -21st September)
This is a summary of the key issues debated and discussed in Parliament in the week of September 17th-21st 2018.
PLENARY
- Speaker Calls out Non-performing committees.
The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, named committees that have failed to deliver on their constitutional mandate to process Bills within the requisite 45 days. She further informed the House that the following weeks would be dedicated to the completion of Bills before Committees and thereafter Committee reports. The Speaker also informed the House of the magnitude of business pending in Committees and urged Committees to expedite their conclusion. She added that the development of an on-line tracking system for Committee business was underway.
- Government tables loan request for the National CCTV network expansion project.
A Motion for a Resolution of Parliament to authorize Government to borrow up to USD 104.0 million from Standard Chartered Bank to finance the National CCTV network expansion project.
The Speaker referred the Motion to the Committee on National Economy for consideration.
3. UPDF comes under fire for impunity and Brutality against Ugandans
Members of Parliament raised concern on the continued brutality of the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) on fishing communities. MPs raising on matters of urgent national importance noted that the UPDF guarding the Uganda waters and fishing communities have been terrorizing the citizens in those communities.
The Speaker Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga informed the house that she received a Kenyan delegation led by two MPs who complained about the brutality of the UPDF on the Lake Victoria on the border with Kenyan, and informed the house that she has raised the same issue to the President. Details here
- House debates fees structures for the new Mulago specialized Women and Neo- Natal Hospital
The Minister of Health, Hon. Jane Ruth Aceng presented a statement on the operationalization of Mulago specialized Women and Neonatal Hospital. The ensuing debate saw members, while grateful that the new structure is up and running, condemning the “exorbitant fees” which many rural Ugandans, cannot not afford. They asked the Ministry to revise the fees to make it affordable.
- Speaker adjourns Parliament sine die after Government fails to explain the brutality of the PDF on fishing communities.
Speaker of Parliament Rt. Honorable Rebecca Kadaga adjourned the house sine die (date to be named) following the failure of the government to present a statement on persistent mistreatment, torture and unlawful arrests and brutality of fishermen around the different fishing islands in the country by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces.
On Tuesday 18 September during plenary sitting, the Speaker directed the Prime Minister and to make a statement today on this issue matter after the Minister of defense had refused to address Parliament. This issue according to the Speaker has been brought on the floor more than four times and the Ministry of Defence has never bothered even after directives from the Speaker to give statements. Details here
Committees
- Committee on HIV/AIDS and Related Diseases
On Wednesday 19th September 2018, Pill Power Uganda (PiPo) met with the committee to create awareness of their existence as a Non- Governmental Organisation, inform the committee of their activities and also seek for any possible support from the committee to enable the organization reach and help more HIV/AIDs victims. On Thursday 20th, the committee met with Uganda Network for Young People Living with HIV/AIDs (UNYPA). The objective of the meeting was for UNYPA to seek for support from the committee in various aspects as far as battling against HIV/AIDs is concerned.
- Select Committee Investigating Sexual Violence in Institutions of learning
Hon. Rwakoojo Robinah continued with its public hearing, meeting CSOs and NGOs that do work around sexual violence. The committee was constituted after a motion for resolution of Parliament urging Government to inquire into allegations of sexual violence in institutions of learning in Uganda presented by Hon. Adeke Anna was unanimously adopted. A joint presentation from several organisations like Plan International Uganda, Raising Voices, and Centre for Domestic Violence Prevention (CEDOVIP), Akina Mama Wa Africa, Bahai Faith was made to the select committee.
The presentation captured the causes and extent of the vice of sexual violence in institutions of learning in Uganda and its negative effects on the population, the adequacy and effectiveness of the laws and policies for the management and control of sexual violence in Uganda. Details here
The Uganda Joint Christian Council (UJCC), made a presentation to the Parliamentary Select Committee on inquiry into allegations of sexual violence in institutions of learning in Uganda. UJCC’s presentation detailed four Universities that did not have Sexual Harassment Policies and this increased the vulnerability of both students and teachers. They urged the government to accord support services to victims of sexual violence citing out that provision of psychological support and counselling services will do much in rehabilitating victims. Details here