By Madinah Tebajjukira

THE trade ministry has revived 250 cooperative societies and is targeting another 400 this financial year, MPs have heard.

In their report on the ministry’s performance last financial year, the trade and tourism committee attributed the achievement to vigorous sensitisation and provision of market information.

The committee chairman, Kiiza Rwebemberea (NRM), presented the report to Parliament on Friday.

The committee, said Rwebembera, recommended that sh3b be moved from the funds earmarked for the development of an industrial park in the central region to construct Jua Kali (artisan) parks at Luzira and Makindye in Kampala.

The site plans and architectural drawings of the parks were approved by the Kampala City Council but work is yet to commence due to lack of sufficient funds, noted Rwebembera.

He added that a draft policy on cooperative development had been finalised and was awaiting approval by the ministry and Parliament before the end of this financial year.

However, MPs were upset by the absence of finance minister Dr. Ezra Suruma from the House during debate on the national budget.

Bukanga’s Nathan Byanyima (NRM) accused Suruma of arrogance, saying he had consistently failed to attend parliamentary proceedings.

“Madam speaker, the finance minister is arrogant. I have a feeling that members’ views are not well represented. Why does he keep sending different ministers to attend the proceedings?” Byanyima asked.

“On some days, he sends Jachan Omach (general duties state minister), other days he sends Ssemakula Kiwanuka (state for investments), who always comes late. And now he has sent another minister. This is unfair to this House. We need consistency.”
But the Government chief whip, Kabakumba Masiko, said Suruma was not feeling well

“Is it in order for the MP to insinuate that members’ views are not sufficiently represented? Suruma is sick and Omach is committed somewhere else. But Suruma has delegated someone to attend the proceedings,” she said.

The deputy speaker, Rebecca Kadaga, questioned Masiko’s excuse, saying she had not got official communication on Suruma’s condition.

“What Byanyima is raising is right. We need the minister to be consistent in the House.

“I have an office on this building but no one has informed me that Suruma is sick,” she said.