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KAMPALA - The clerk to parliament, Adolf Mwesige Kasaija, announced in a letter to all Members of Parliament (MPs) that the speaker, Anita Among, had directed the plenary sitting to be called off.

The sitting, originally scheduled for today (Wednesday 24), has been postponed to Tuesday, July 30th, 2024, at 2:00 PM. 

The reason for this abrupt cancellation was not disclosed in the letter, which was delivered at 1:5pm, seven minutes before the sitting.  

At the time, some legislators had already taken their seats ready for the session.

Government Chief Whip Denis Hamson Obua explained that “the presiding officer under the parliamentary calendar, who is supposed to chair the house today, is currently involved in a strategic meeting with the head of state.”

The Government Chief Whip explained “In the meeting earlier today, the prime minister, who leads government business in Parliament, presented the government’s legislative agenda. 

This agenda outlines the various bills the government intends to bring to parliament, organized by the ministry, and highlights bills whose principles have already been approved by the cabinet. There are over 50 bills included in the agenda.”

John Baptist Nambeshe, the Chief Opposition Whip (MP Manjiya Constituency), also added that “The business committee convenes at the start of every session. We are now in the fourth session and should have met before yesterday’s plenary. Despite this, we met today and primarily discussed the presentation of the government's legislative agenda.”

Nambeshe however said that he raised the issue that the opposition should be given space on the order paper of the business committee to allow the Leader of Opposition to present an alternative legislative agenda, which has been consistently overlooked.