Trafficking Bill withdrawn from House

Feb 12, 2009

A BILL to prevent trafficking in persons has been withdrawn from Parliament. The approval to withdraw the Bill was given after the chairperson of the Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA), Winnie Masiko, cited technical issues.

A BILL to prevent trafficking in persons has been withdrawn from Parliament, writes Joyce Namutebi and Catherine Bekunda.

The approval to withdraw the Bill was given after the chairperson of the Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA), Winnie Masiko, cited technical issues.

“We have encountered technical problems. I request to withdraw the Bill. We hope to re-table it in two weeks,” Masiko told the House.

UWOPA is spearheading the move to come up with a private members Bill on prevention of trafficking in persons.

Masiko (NRM) later explained: “I want to improve it so that we present a better Bill.”
The Bill is intended to combat trafficking in persons and provide legislation to criminalise it.
It is also meant to promote cooperation amongst countries to combat the vice.

Last year, the shadow cabinet attorney general and Kampala MP, Erias Lukwago, raised concerns that there were two different Bills on the matter.

“It was a big technical hitch. We privately met the deputy Speaker, Rebecca Kadaga. I raised the concern and she understood. There was no way out but to withdraw the Bill,” he explained.

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