Kadaga says MPs shouldn’t meet and agree with the Executive on matters before the House. She cited the 1995 Uganda Constitution and Administration of Parliament Act, 2000, which provides for among others the independence of parliament as one of the arms of government.
The Speaker of
Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga has cautioned the Government Chief Whip, Ruth
Nankabirwa and the Executive against undermining the powers and role of the
legislature.
Kadaga says that she is concerned that while
political parties have the right to caucus and make decisions on parliamentary
business such as bills, she is uncomfortable with MPs resolving on
parliamentary matters with the executive without involving the house.
Her statement comes after the NRM parliamentary resolved in a
meeting with President, Yoweri Museveni on Monday to support the implementation
of the 15 percent tuition policy at Makerere University.
The caucus also agreed
to oppose the Administration of Parliament Bill, 2018 that is sponsored by the Kabale
Municipality MP, Andrew Aja Baryayanga.
The Bill among others provides for the establishment of the
offices of Deputy Leader of Opposition, Chief Opposition Whip, party whips
and Dean of Independent MPs.
The NRM caucus is opposed to the bill,
saying it threatens the powers of political parties in the selection and
nomination of the back bench Parliamentary Commission members and Leader of the
Opposition among other provisions.
However,
Kadaga says MPs shouldn’t meet and agree with
the Executive on matters before the House.
She cited the 1995 Uganda
Constitution and Administration of Parliament Act, 2000, which provides for
among others the independence of parliament as one of the arms of government.
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Kadaga
made the statement after the Masaka Municipality
MP, Mathias Mpuuga raised concern on the resolutions of the National Resistance
Movement-NRM parliamentary to support the 15 percent cumulative tuition
increment at Makerere University.
Mpuuga raised a procedural matter regarding the
decision of the caucus, saying the Education and Sports Committee of parliament
is investigating the unrest at the public university centered mainly on the
controversial tuition policy.
Mpuuga noted that the committee was directed to
handle the matter and report to the House on November 13, 2019.
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The Opposition Whip, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda
agreed with Mpuuga that the NRM parliamentary Caucus decision on Makerere
University has undermined the oversight role of parliament.
Ssemujju, who is
also the Kira Municipality MP, asked the Government Chief Whip, Ruth Nankabirwa
to explain why she allowed the caucus to sit and decide on the matter before
Parliament.
Nankabirwa defended the move, saying that her office is
mandated to whip NRM MPs to reach consensus and agree on what decision to take
on parliamentary business.
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Nankabirwa thereafter asked the House to cite any rules that
she breached for organizing the caucus meeting to discuss the Makerere
University and Administration of Parliament Amendment Bill.
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The Kilak South MP, Gilbert Olanya asked Kadaga to rule on
whether or not Nankabirwa breached rules of procedure by calling for a caucus
meeting on issues being scrutinized in the House.
Kadaga insisted
that Nankabirwa and the Executive should respect the role and powers of
Parliament.
Joan Akello
Freelancer
