Katuntu to present Information Bill
Feb 17, 2004
Parliament has passed a motion allowing Bugweri MP Abdu Katuntu to present a private members bill on the right to access to information by citizens.
By Vision Reporters
Parliament has passed a motion allowing Bugweri MP Abdu Katuntu to present a private members bill on the right to access to information by citizens.
Katuntu said Article 41 of the Constitution provides for the right to access to information in possession by the state or organs of the state.
He said Article 41 (2) required Parliament to enact a law to prescribe information to be acce-ssed and the process for obtaining the information.
He said he had presented the draft copy of the Access to Information Bill 2004 to the Attorney General and information state minister Dr. Nsaba Buturo. Katuntu said the absence of the law regarding the right of access to information had led to corruption, abuse of power and violations of human rights.
“The law will improve governance, equity and bring about rule of law. It is long over due. We have been under pressure from civil society and the public to enact the law,†he said.
Buturo said last month he presented the draft bill to Cabinet and that the law was on its way to being prepared by the Attorney General.
“I appreciate Katuntu’s commendable effort. I will ask the office of the Attorney General to make use of Katuntu’s draft,†he said.
Speaker Edward Ssek-andi said since the minister and Katuntu were both working on the matter, the first bill to arrive in the House would be the one to be debated.
Ends
Parliament has passed a motion allowing Bugweri MP Abdu Katuntu to present a private members bill on the right to access to information by citizens.
Katuntu said Article 41 of the Constitution provides for the right to access to information in possession by the state or organs of the state.
He said Article 41 (2) required Parliament to enact a law to prescribe information to be acce-ssed and the process for obtaining the information.
He said he had presented the draft copy of the Access to Information Bill 2004 to the Attorney General and information state minister Dr. Nsaba Buturo. Katuntu said the absence of the law regarding the right of access to information had led to corruption, abuse of power and violations of human rights.
“The law will improve governance, equity and bring about rule of law. It is long over due. We have been under pressure from civil society and the public to enact the law,†he said.
Buturo said last month he presented the draft bill to Cabinet and that the law was on its way to being prepared by the Attorney General.
“I appreciate Katuntu’s commendable effort. I will ask the office of the Attorney General to make use of Katuntu’s draft,†he said.
Speaker Edward Ssek-andi said since the minister and Katuntu were both working on the matter, the first bill to arrive in the House would be the one to be debated.
Ends