Parliament jammed during referendum debate

By Henry Mukasa and Milton Olupot
PARLIAMENT registered a record turn-up of MPs on Wednesday as they resolved that the decision to reject the resolution of parliament on the referendum be rescinded.
By 2:30pm, many MPs were seated and ministers could not fit on the front bench, sharing seats with back-benchers.
As more MPs streamed into the chambers, Speaker Edward Ssekandi would interrupt the legislator holding the floor and comment, “I’m very happy with today’s attendance.”
As the debate went on, Sarah Kiyingi (Rakai) said there were no more seats for MPs.
“Parliament is unusually full. MPs are sitting in shifts and some ministers are literally squatting, like minister Okello Oryem,” she said.
She suggested that mats be brought in as “we don’t want to see ministers falling off benches.”
In the previous session, parliament’s work was dogged by lack of quorum.
Sources said pro-government MPs were mobilised to attend as a vote was expected on the motion. The Movement has a majority in the House.
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