The chairperson of the committee Robinah Rwakoojo told Parliament that her committee could not proceed with a meeting with Kafuuzi after he informed the committee that he was not holding the portfolio for the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
The Committee also learnt that the contracts of the remaining two Deputies are also close to expiry. According to Minister Lokodo, the contract of Deputy IGG George Bamugemereire expires in two weeks while that of Mariam Wangandya expires in four months.
Agnes Namusiitwa, the Kakuuto Sub County Female Councilor to Kyotera district local government, says the proposal curtails principals of democracy, especially in scenarios where political parties fail to organize free primaries. Namusitwa, who is also Secretary of the Greater Masaka Civil Society advocacy group, is afraid that the bill will fuel dictatorial tendencies in political parties.
Christine Akot, the Moroto District Vice Chairperson says joint campaigns help the electorate to make informed choices after hearing from all candidates in the same date. She also stresses that joint campaigns reduce fatigue and confusion of the electorate.
The Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee has directed the Attorney General, William Byaruhanga to give an opinion on whether the proposed National Local Content Bill, 2019 conflicts with the regional Protocol.
The new law comes at the time of increased lending from microfinance institutions which have been accepting alternative forms of collateral from those that had been excluded from the main banking sector.The law lays the legal groundwork for banks to lend against movable assets, including crops, livestock and vehicles.
Once approved, the bill will provide for the creation and perfection of security interest, rules for determining priority of claims among competing claimants and registration of security interest in movable property by notices and others.
Once passed into law, the bill will provide for the creation and perfection of security interest, provide for rules for determining priority of claims among competing claimants, provide for registration of security interest in movable property by notices and others.
This is part of the recommendations in the committee report on the Human Rights Enforcement Bill, 2015, which seeks to enforce Article 50 4 of the constitution
The Bill also seeks to remedy the gap arising from the Constitutional Court ruling in the case of Bukenya Church Ambrose Vs Attorney General in Constitutional Petition No. 26 of 2010.
Sseggona contends that since court martial is established outside Article 129 of the constitution, it cannot be taken as an impartial and independent court.
Members of Parliament sitting on the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee have criticised the Uganda Human Rights Commission UHRC for not taking action against security operatives who defy court to re-arrest suspects released on bail.
The minority report signed by eight legislators is against the recommendations carried in the committees main report signed by 20 MPs. The main committee report agrees with the Bill recommending for the removal of the upper presidential age limit and a reduction of the lower limit to 18 years.
According to the committee, age, as a qualification for election is not useful in limiting unsuitable persons from attaining the office of President. The report indicates that the committee did not receive any evidence that all persons above the age of 75 suffer from cognitive decline and therefore unable to lead.
NRM legislators are meeting in the Presidents Office near Parliament while opposition MPs drawn from the Democratic Party DP, Forum for Democratic Change FDC and Uganda Peoples Congress UPC are meeting in the office of the Leader of the Opposition LOP on 5th floor, Parliament Building.
