Parliament’s Rules, Discipline and Privilege Committee has proposed an amendment to the rules of procedure to allow for a Speaker of Parliament to resign voluntarily.
Parliament’s Rules, Discipline and Privilege Committee has
proposed an amendment to the rules of procedure to allow for a Speaker of
Parliament to resign voluntarily.
The Rules’ Committee Chairperson, Clement Ongalo while presenting the report to
parliament on Tuesday said that currently, the Parliament’s rules of procedure
does not provide for a Speaker or Deputy to resign, but only provides for the
impeachment.
Ongalo also says that although the provision for a Speaker to resign
exists in the constitution, there is a need to make it clear in the
Parliament’s rule book.
//Cue in: “Resignation of Speaker…
Cue out:…and Deputy Speaker”//
In 1998, the Speaker of Parliament of Parliament James Wapakhabulo
resigned when he was appointed National Political Commissar.
The committee also proposed a ban on campaigns for the Speaker and
Deputy Speaker saying it goes against the decorum of Parliament.
Ongalo said that public campaigns should not be permitted because
there are high chances of hurting the dignity of the individuals concerned and
in turn the institution of Parliament.
The proposed ban follows a heated race between Speaker Rebecca
Kadaga and her Deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanyah, where both camps have resorted to
throwing insults at each other and openly attacking each other in the public
domain.
//Cue in: "The committee in...
Cue out: ...from public campaigns"//
The proposal by the rules committee to ban campaigns comes hours
after President Museveni also asked the candidates for the Speaker not to
campaign saying NRM’s Central Executive Committee will resolve the matter.
The committee is also proposing that an MP-elect who is unable to
come to the Parliament building can take oath wherever they are. This according
to the committee chairperson can be via zoom video conference, and even when an
MP is in jail.
He says this could be an amendment to have a speaker designate the
area, and the clerk of Parliament administers the oath where the MP is located.
The Rules Committee is also proposing payment of 3 Million Shillings
for nomination fees for candidates vying for the East African Legislative
Assembly (EALA) to harmonize the election procedures of the East African
Legislative Assembly with that of other electoral offices in the Country.
Another proposal is to have Parliament sit for four days instead
of the current three days to cater for the large numbers of MPs. Additionally,
the committee is also proposing that an MP sits only in one committee compared
to sitting on various committees, and this can be on a rotational basis year to
cater for the many numbers of MPs.
Speaker Rebecca Kadaga asked MPs to scrutinize the Committee
report and make their proposals through the Clerk to Parliament before a final
decision is taken.
