COURT | NAMUGANZA | CENSURE

KAMPALA - Lands state minister Persis Namuganza has petitioned the High Court seeking orders quashing the resolution of Parliament censuring her from the office of a minister in the Government of Uganda.

On January 2, 2023, a special Parliament sitting chaired by Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa censured Namuganza over reported misconduct.

In a suit filed against the Attorney General, in the Civil Division of the High Court in Kampala Tuesday, Namuganza argues that she is being victimised for criticising Parliament.

“The decision of the select committee is unreasonable and irrational in so far as I was convicted for criticising Parliament, thereby giving an impression that Parliament is not infallible,” Namuganza, who is also the Bukono Constituency MP, contends.

Namuganza argues that the proceedings of the select committee that culminated into a report entitled: A report of the Select Committee on the motion for a resolution of Parliament to pass a vote of censure against Namuganza, were conducted in a manner that contravened the Constitution, the law and principles of natural justice.

Namuganza contends that the findings were arrived at without according to her a fair hearing, an opportunity to be heard and are, therefore, illegal, irrational and procedurally improper.

“I was not given sufficient time to prepare and respond to the allegations made against me before the select committee and, therefore, the findings in the report were null and void,” she says.

She contends that the decision of the select committee is among the people who appended their signatures signifying support to the motion of censure against her yet they had already pronounced themselves on the motion.

According to Namuganza, the select committee members who signed are Mwine Mpaka Rwamirama, Nancy Acora, Mpindi Bumali and Geoffrey Ekanya.