Why has violence taken hold of our legislative process?

By George W. Ntambaazi

It is analytically unavoidable to describe the legislative process in Uganda whether in Parliament or in Local Councils without referring to it as muddled in violence.

The mess in KCCA, and more recently the behaviour of MPs while debating the Public Order Management Bill (POMB) brought our legislative procedures and the entire institution of Parliament to shame. POMB specifically tested the leadership of Deputy Speaker of Parliament against his fellow MPs. 

The Opposition accuses Jacob Oulanyah of perceived lack of respect for legislative procedures.

The Bill, passed amid sustained opposition protests seeks to regulate public meetings, specifically the duties and responsibilities of the Police, the organisers and participants in regulating public meetings as well as prescribing measures for safeguarding public order.

Already the Bill soon to be assented to by the President has claimed four MPs: Theodore Ssekikubo (Lwemiyaga), Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda (Kyaddondo East), Samuel Odongo Otto Aruu) and Angelina Osege, Soroti Woman MP expelled for violently shouting most. Helpless and in agony, the opposition has muffled a loud scream, that is followed by painful groans and it is all over.

I was in the Parliament Strangers’ Gallery as the drama unfolded, watched as legislators performed shameful acts not worthy of leaders. Violence was the business of the day. Parliament has indeed earned itself an unenviable top slot as one of the noisiest places in the country. No wonder the public begrudges and despises many of our leaders.

My keen observation is that legislators both on the Government and Opposition sides, are very arrogant, do not listen, use foul language, issue threats, incite, moblise and use thugs to spread terror to each other and among the people they claim to represent. This kind of behaviour has bloody consequences for our country.

MPs have turned the institution of Parliament and themselves from the once respected men and women of dignity to a fire spitting, violence spewing and verbal diarroeharing wild animals. Sadly, majority of NRM MPs looked clueless; others joined the fray as opposition MPs sang, clapped and danced with the rhythmic steps causing mayhem unchallenged.

MPs should know that legislation through violence creates a momentum of its own that can become impossible to control. As people in positions of leadership, they have the responsibility to encourage more constructive solutions to political problems than turning to intimidation and violence.

No one is most dutiful conscious to remember our history and its terrible repucursions than the current leaders

It is imperative that we in Uganda, basing on the preamble of our Constitution speak and listen to each other. We must peacefully dialogue to solve our problems. Competitive arrogance and competition must be replaced by attitudes that serve the best interests of us all.

Although peaceful dialogue is illusive, it is cheaper to maintain and sustain. This stupid culture of legislative violence places a very high premium on the lives of Ugandans and comes with heavy burdens.

Since violence breeds more violence, the search for peaceful dialogue more especially in Parliament must be nurtured.

My suggestion to nip legislative violence in the bud the following can be done:

• A ruthless execution and strict enforcement of Parliamentary Rules of Procedure.

• The media should play a more proactive role through critical and analytical articles that remain alert to inflammatory political and legislative statements.

• There is need to develop oversight structures and monitor violence in Parliament.

• We should hold public debates between leaders and the public on the need to make legislation violence free.

• We need to develop and institute therapeutic mechanisms for legislators to vent out violence

The writer is a political analyst