MOVEMENT BILL HITS SNAG
Aug 14, 2003
THE Movement Bill for extension of the term of the Movement’s leaders again hit a snag yesterday when the parliamentary legal affairs committee put it on hold until the Government tables a new political parties Bill.
By John Kakande
THE Movement Bill for extension of the term of the Movement’s leaders again hit a snag yesterday when the parliamentary legal affairs committee put it on hold until the Government tables a new political parties Bill.
The committee said the Bill and the Parties Act were inter-related and amendments to one would affect the other.
The committee said there was no need to hurry the extension of the term of Movement leaders but resolved to urge Parliament to approve the budget for the Movement Secretariat.
The committee also sought further clarification whether it would not be in breach of rule of subjudice to consider the Movement Bill, which is being challenged in the Constitutional Court by Paul Ssemogerere and MPs Winnie Byanyima and Issa Kikungwe.
The Parties Act has been at the centre of litigation. The court declared sections of the Act restricting activities of parties null and void.
Justice minister Janat Mukwaya, National Political Commissar Dr Crispus Kiyonga and three other ministers earlier left the committee smiling and cheerful, confident that they had cleared all the roadblocks to the Movement Bill.
Mukwaya, among other things, had informed the committee that the existing Movement political system wouldn’t be changed before 2006. She said the Constitutional Amendment Bill would be tabled before Parliament by the end of this year.
The committee an hour later resolved to put on hold the consideration of the contentious Bill. Both Dr Sam Lyomoki and Lt. James Kinobe said the committee was shifting goal posts by making the Parties Bill a condition for considering the Movement Bill.
Byamukama said Mukwaya was mistaken if she left with the impression that the committee had agreed to endorse the Bill. “We have not opened the Bill as a committee,†Byamukama said.
He said she would write to Mukwaya about the committee’s decision.
MPs Fred Ruhindi, Wagonda Muguli and Godfrey Kiwanda said the Movement Bill and Parties Act amendments should be handled concurrently to allay fears that the Movement had a hidden agenda.
Mukwaya, Dr Crispus Kiyonga, Sam Bitangaro, the acting attorney general, and ministers of state Hope Mwesigye and Adolf Mwesige, accompanied by a team of half a dozen justice technocrats.
They descended on the committee yesterday morning to counter charges that the Movement Bill was illegal and that the committee would breach the rule of subjudice if it considered it.
The ministers spent three hours putting their case supported by MPs James Kinobe, Alex Ndeezi, Lyomoki (Workers) and Jacob Oulanyah.
A letter sent to Parliament by the lawyers for Paul Ssemogerere and MPs Winnie Byanyima and Issa Kikungwe who this week filed a petition in the Constitutional Court challenging the legality of the Movement Bill caused a heated debate in the committee.
“We, in the premises, hereby request your committee not to proceed with aforesaid process as the matter is now subjudice,†said the letter by Lukwago, Alaka and company advocates.
Lukwago turned up at the committee yesterday to listen to the debate.
Byamukama said the committee discussed the letter on Monday and agreed to disregard it.
“The committee takes instructions from the House and the Speaker. It cannot take instructions from strangers,†Byamukama added.
Mukwaya said the Movement Act has never been challenged in the Constitutional Court. She said the Ssemogerere petition only challenged some sections of the Parties Act. She also argued that the Movement political system is still intact.
Ben Wacha said it was unwise for the committee to consider the Bill.
Mwesige said the Bill was tabled in good faith.
Military intelligence chief Col. Noble Mayonbo attended the meeting.
THE Movement Bill for extension of the term of the Movement’s leaders again hit a snag yesterday when the parliamentary legal affairs committee put it on hold until the Government tables a new political parties Bill.
The committee said the Bill and the Parties Act were inter-related and amendments to one would affect the other.
The committee said there was no need to hurry the extension of the term of Movement leaders but resolved to urge Parliament to approve the budget for the Movement Secretariat.
The committee also sought further clarification whether it would not be in breach of rule of subjudice to consider the Movement Bill, which is being challenged in the Constitutional Court by Paul Ssemogerere and MPs Winnie Byanyima and Issa Kikungwe.
The Parties Act has been at the centre of litigation. The court declared sections of the Act restricting activities of parties null and void.
Justice minister Janat Mukwaya, National Political Commissar Dr Crispus Kiyonga and three other ministers earlier left the committee smiling and cheerful, confident that they had cleared all the roadblocks to the Movement Bill.
Mukwaya, among other things, had informed the committee that the existing Movement political system wouldn’t be changed before 2006. She said the Constitutional Amendment Bill would be tabled before Parliament by the end of this year.
The committee an hour later resolved to put on hold the consideration of the contentious Bill. Both Dr Sam Lyomoki and Lt. James Kinobe said the committee was shifting goal posts by making the Parties Bill a condition for considering the Movement Bill.
Byamukama said Mukwaya was mistaken if she left with the impression that the committee had agreed to endorse the Bill. “We have not opened the Bill as a committee,†Byamukama said.
He said she would write to Mukwaya about the committee’s decision.
MPs Fred Ruhindi, Wagonda Muguli and Godfrey Kiwanda said the Movement Bill and Parties Act amendments should be handled concurrently to allay fears that the Movement had a hidden agenda.
Mukwaya, Dr Crispus Kiyonga, Sam Bitangaro, the acting attorney general, and ministers of state Hope Mwesigye and Adolf Mwesige, accompanied by a team of half a dozen justice technocrats.
They descended on the committee yesterday morning to counter charges that the Movement Bill was illegal and that the committee would breach the rule of subjudice if it considered it.
The ministers spent three hours putting their case supported by MPs James Kinobe, Alex Ndeezi, Lyomoki (Workers) and Jacob Oulanyah.
A letter sent to Parliament by the lawyers for Paul Ssemogerere and MPs Winnie Byanyima and Issa Kikungwe who this week filed a petition in the Constitutional Court challenging the legality of the Movement Bill caused a heated debate in the committee.
“We, in the premises, hereby request your committee not to proceed with aforesaid process as the matter is now subjudice,†said the letter by Lukwago, Alaka and company advocates.
Lukwago turned up at the committee yesterday to listen to the debate.
Byamukama said the committee discussed the letter on Monday and agreed to disregard it.
“The committee takes instructions from the House and the Speaker. It cannot take instructions from strangers,†Byamukama added.
Mukwaya said the Movement Act has never been challenged in the Constitutional Court. She said the Ssemogerere petition only challenged some sections of the Parties Act. She also argued that the Movement political system is still intact.
Ben Wacha said it was unwise for the committee to consider the Bill.
Mwesige said the Bill was tabled in good faith.
Military intelligence chief Col. Noble Mayonbo attended the meeting.