Parliament has reconstituted the sectoral committees by designating legislators to various committees as well as the leadership of the committees. 

In the absence of a Government Chief Whip, the Speaker of Parliament Anita Among made a ruling allowing the third Deputy Prime Minister, Rukia Nakadam, to perform the exercise of designating MPs on behalf of the ruling party. 

Before the exercise of designating MPs to committees commenced on Monday (June 04) afternoon, there were attempts from Opposition legislators to block the exercise, arguing the exercise could not be undertaken in the absence of a Government Chief Whip. 

Kira Municipality legislator Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda argued it is the Government Chief Whip that is mandated to designate members of the ruling party to the committees. 

Pointing out the fact that the President is yet to appoint the governor of the Bank of Uganda, carrying out the exercise of constituting committees without a Government Chief Whip would create more complacency for the President to delay to execute his duties. 

Responding to Ssemujju, Among said, “I have already made a ruling on that matter. If you want to challenge it, you know how the ruling of the Speaker is challenged.” 

Longtime Dokolo woman MP Cecilia Ogwal said, “The Prime Minister deals with executive issues and the whips deal with political issues for their political parties. The Prime Minister is not easy to access as I would easily access a party whip.” 

The Opposition Chief Whip John Baptist Nambeshe by allowing the Prime Minister to carry out an exercise which is a preserve of a Government Chief Whip Parliament would be creating room for possible litigations. 

All the legislators who served as chairpersons of the various sectoral committees in the first session of the 11th Parliament were yesterday (Monday, June 06) reappointed and approved to continue serving in the same positions in the second session of Parliament which commenced yesterday. 

 Kiboga East legislator Dr. Kefa Kiwanuka was approved chairman of the Committee for Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Mbarara South MP Mpaka Mwine was reappointed as chairman of the Trade, Tourism and Industry Committee, and Jessica Ababiku as chairperson of the Presidential Affairs Committee.

 Koboko Municipality Dr. Charles Ayume will continue to serve as the chairman of the Parliament Health Committee and Bunyaruguru County MP John Twesigye will continue serving as chairman of the Education and Sports Committee. 

The Budiope East MP and President of the Federation of Uganda Football Association, Moses Magogo, continues to serve as chairman of the ICT and National Guidance Committee while Dr. Emmanuel Otaala will continue to serve as the chairman of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee. 

Kyegegwa woman MP Flavia Kabahenda who is also the chairperson of the Parliamentary Forum on Social Protection will continue serving as the chairperson of the Gender, Labour and Social Development Committee and former state minister for public service David Karubanga will continue to serve as the chairman of the Physical Infrastructure Committee. 

With a tenure of one year, the sectoral committees of Parliament which process budgets, Bills and other businesses within their sectors are led by chairpersons appointed by the ruling party. 

The leadership of the Parliament Accountability Committees whose tenure is two and a half years is chosen by the leadership of the leading opposition party. 

With the completion of the exercise of reconstituting the sectoral committees whose tenure had ended with the first session/year, the 11th Parliament and the Parliament Business Committee meeting that convened yesterday in the morning to agree on what should be prioritized, Parliament is set to once again be a beehive of activities.