Speaker bans pork from Parliament canteen

May 21, 2007

THE Parliamentary Commission has banned serving pork in the parliamentary canteen. The Speaker, Edward Ssekandi, wrote to the Muslim community in the House assuring them that he communicated to the canteen management and they promised not to include pork on the menu.

By Mary Karugaba

THE Parliamentary Commission has banned serving pork in the parliamentary canteen. The Speaker, Edward Ssekandi, wrote to the Muslim community in the House assuring them that he communicated to the canteen management and they promised not to include pork on the menu.

The ban follows a boycott of the canteen by Muslim MPs for serving pork.

They argued that the inclusion of pork was not only disrespectful to their values but also insensitive to the code of their religion.

However, MPs Elijah Okupa and Odonga Otto on behalf of the pork-eating MPs, have also written to Ssekandi protesting the ban.

They say the move is an infringement to their rights contrary to article 43 of the Constitution which prohibits the discrimination of individuals.

“We recognise the religious rights of our Muslim MPs, however, we contend that Parliament being the supreme law making body should exhibit the highest levels of religious tolerance,” they stated.

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