Secret ballot in parliament may soon end
A MOTION to scrap secret ballot voting from the Parliament’s rules of procedure was yesterday presented to Parliament as it prepares to debate constitutional amendments.
By Henry Mukasa
A MOTION to scrap secret ballot voting from the Parliament’s rules of procedure was yesterday presented to Parliament as it prepares to debate constitutional amendments.
Kassanda South MP Nyombi Thembo presented the motion amidst protests from MPs that the timing was suspect and that he had not complied with the very rules of procedure he sought he amend.
A shouting match momentarily took over the floor as opposition MPs sought to shoot down the motion on technical grounds.
Amidst simultaneous shouts of “point of orderâ€, “point of procedure†and “Clarification†by several MPs, the Deputy Speaker, Rebecca Kadaga, put her feet down and ruled that the motion be presented.
The motion was not debated but was referred to the committee on rules and privileges for scrutiny.
Thembo’s motion, seconded by Moses Kizige (Bugabula North), wants Parliament to make provision that, “All constitutional amendments shall be voted on by either show of hands or by division as the Speaker may determine.â€
It also seeks to shield the Speaker from effortless censure, to include Monday and Friday as working days for Parliament and to stretch working hours from 10:00am to 7:00pm.
MPs have been sitting on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, from 2:00pm to 5:30pm.
Thembo said because power belongs to the people who exercise it through the Constitution, the supreme law, its amendment should be done in “full view†of the people.
“It would be a miscarriage of democracy to have representatives of the people make final decisions on such a process without the people knowing how their representatives have voted,†Thembo said.
Thembo dispelled fears that ‘open voting’ would encourage intimidation from the state and expose MPs to being compromised.
But MPs shouted, “five million shillingsâ€, insinuating that it was a Movement ploy to vet those who took the controversial kisanja (third term) cash.
“We have seen leaders say things they don’t believe in. Such leaders will always hide under secret voting because they know that their “mouth and hearts†do not live together,†Thembo said.
MPs who sought to block the motion said Thembo had neither given a five-day notice nor circulated copies. Kadaga said she and the Clerk got notice.
“A five-day notice, accompanied by a draft, must be given on the floor of the House, not quietly to the Speaker and Clerk,†Miria Matembe said.
Bernard Mulengani, Charles Bakkabulindi, Winnie Matsiko, Hope Mwesigye and Mike Sebalu said the technical arguments were a waste of time.
“You are now in a challenging position to guide this House and set a precedent,†Omara Atubo told Kadaga. “I hope you are not intimidating me,†she shot back.
When more MPs sought to block the motion, Kadaga shouted on top of her voice, “Aha aha! No! No!... Hon. Thembo continue,†as Movement MPs applauded.
A MOTION to scrap secret ballot voting from the Parliament’s rules of procedure was yesterday presented to Parliament as it prepares to debate constitutional amendments.
Kassanda South MP Nyombi Thembo presented the motion amidst protests from MPs that the timing was suspect and that he had not complied with the very rules of procedure he sought he amend.
A shouting match momentarily took over the floor as opposition MPs sought to shoot down the motion on technical grounds.
Amidst simultaneous shouts of “point of orderâ€, “point of procedure†and “Clarification†by several MPs, the Deputy Speaker, Rebecca Kadaga, put her feet down and ruled that the motion be presented.
The motion was not debated but was referred to the committee on rules and privileges for scrutiny.
Thembo’s motion, seconded by Moses Kizige (Bugabula North), wants Parliament to make provision that, “All constitutional amendments shall be voted on by either show of hands or by division as the Speaker may determine.â€
It also seeks to shield the Speaker from effortless censure, to include Monday and Friday as working days for Parliament and to stretch working hours from 10:00am to 7:00pm.
MPs have been sitting on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, from 2:00pm to 5:30pm.
Thembo said because power belongs to the people who exercise it through the Constitution, the supreme law, its amendment should be done in “full view†of the people.
“It would be a miscarriage of democracy to have representatives of the people make final decisions on such a process without the people knowing how their representatives have voted,†Thembo said.
Thembo dispelled fears that ‘open voting’ would encourage intimidation from the state and expose MPs to being compromised.
But MPs shouted, “five million shillingsâ€, insinuating that it was a Movement ploy to vet those who took the controversial kisanja (third term) cash.
“We have seen leaders say things they don’t believe in. Such leaders will always hide under secret voting because they know that their “mouth and hearts†do not live together,†Thembo said.
MPs who sought to block the motion said Thembo had neither given a five-day notice nor circulated copies. Kadaga said she and the Clerk got notice.
“A five-day notice, accompanied by a draft, must be given on the floor of the House, not quietly to the Speaker and Clerk,†Miria Matembe said.
Bernard Mulengani, Charles Bakkabulindi, Winnie Matsiko, Hope Mwesigye and Mike Sebalu said the technical arguments were a waste of time.
“You are now in a challenging position to guide this House and set a precedent,†Omara Atubo told Kadaga. “I hope you are not intimidating me,†she shot back.
When more MPs sought to block the motion, Kadaga shouted on top of her voice, “Aha aha! No! No!... Hon. Thembo continue,†as Movement MPs applauded.