The lighter side of Museveni''s speech

By Joyce Namutebi

PARLIAMENT, Kampala - Every institution has its rules and this is what President Yoweri Museveni found out on Thursday.

Deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanyah taught the President the Rules of Procedure of Parliament after finding him “wanting” in some aspects.

“Your Excellency, you will need some induction in parliamentary procedure and use of language,” he said.

He singled out Museveni’s use of the words “artificial bums” in reference to “consumables” such as wigs on which oil money should not be spent.

Oulanyah also told the President that Parliament rules are strict on the way members address each other. The President referred to MPs Theodore Sekikubo, Wilfed Niwagaba and Abdu Katuntu by only their second names.

Museveni accused the trio of working with external forces that finance their efforts to derail the oil programmes.

Oulanyah said: “We refer to them as Honourable Sekikubo, not just Sekikubo.”

Oulanyah went on to remind the President that proceedings of Parliament are in English, but that the President had used words in Madi, Lusoga and Runyankore. However, Museveni, who took the lessons in good faith, returned to the podium and said he was ready to be guided about the right language and apologised.

When the President had taken his seat, he realised that the First Lady, Janet Museveni, had changed seats. He beckoned her to join him and she obliged to the amusement of MPs.