No one can take away powers of parliament - Kadaga

PIC:  Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, walks into the chambers for a plenary sitting. (Credit: Miriam Namutebi)

KAMPALA - The Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga has asked government to guard against the abuse of the judicial authority, by individuals, to interfere with the power and independence of parliament.

"How can a lawyer like Sabiiti base on things in his head, go to court, he files a petition and he is given a hearing? What was the urgency?

"As if a resolution had been passed or something had been put on the order paper. How can you judge basing on some one's hearing," Kadaga asked.

She said it was unfair for someone off the streets to take parliament to court over something in anticipation.

The Speaker made the remarks Wednesday as the House resumed business, following its adjournment over a court order by deputy chief Justice Steven Kavuma restraining parliament from debating the sh6b oil cash bonus to 42 government officials, for winning an oil case in London.

In her communication to the House, Kadaga asked the Deputy Attorney General Rukutana Mwesigwa to update parliament on whether the order had been vacated, as she had directed, when the House was adjourned sine-die last week over the court order.

Briefing parliament on the progress of the directive, Rukutana told the MPs that the court order had been withdrawn after the petitioner lost interest in the case.

"We were about to file a petition asking court to withdraw the order, but the petitioner lost interest in the case" he said.

Just like parliament, Rukutana attacked the petitioner for rushing to court to file a petition without thinking twice.

He assured parliament that the government would take up the matter with the judiciary to avoid future occurrence of such petitions.

"Please inform judiciary that this kind of extremism is not good for the country, and no-one can take away powers of Parliament," Kadaga told Rukutana.

Last week, Kavuma issued an interim court order which was served to the attorney, and parliament, restraining the legislature, any person or authority from investigating, questioning, or inquiring into the impugned bonus payments.

The order barred parliament from discussing the matter until the main application No.06 0f 2017 has been heard and determined.

Through Candia & D.W Oundo Advocates, city lawyer Eric Sabiti had filed an application that made Kavuma to issue the infamous interim order barring parliament from debating the sh6b oil bonus.

The lawyer has however since  apologized to parliament and withdrawn his petition to allow parliament carry on with its work.