THIS YEAR IN PARLIAMENT

Dec 26, 2008

<b>2008: Budo inferno hits hard</b><br><br>february 9: Controversial Land <br>amendments Bill 2007 tabled <br>Matheniko county MP Abura Pirirr made a historical threat to undress in Parliament in order to block the controversial Land Amendments Bill 2007. The Bill was tabled to Parliament by Ho

2008: Budo inferno hits hard

february 9: Controversial Land
amendments Bill 2007 tabled
Matheniko county MP Abura Pirirr made a historical threat to undress in Parliament in order to block the controversial Land Amendments Bill 2007. The Bill was tabled to Parliament by Housing state minister Micheal Werikhe, presided over by Parliament Speaker Edward Ssekandi.

march 8: MPs snub Museveni invitation
Opposition MPs of the Buganda caucus turned down President Yoweri Museveni’s invitation to his home in Rwakitura to discuss Buganda issues. They said they were suspicious of the invitation since their requests in the first meeting at Entebbe State House had not been addressed.

march 15: MPs demand list of State House employees
MPS on the public accounts committee demanded a list of State House employees, following a complaint from the Auditor General’s report 2005/6 that there were unfair regional distribution of jobs in State House.

march 29: NO constituency funds
for MPS
Parliament Clerk Aeneas Tandekwire told the MPs who had not accounted for the Constituents Development Fund (CDF) from 2005/2007, would not get more money. 69 of the 333 MPs had accounted for the CDF.

APRIL 12: KYAMBOGO STUDENTS CAMP
AT PARLIAMENT
Disgusted with the delayed reopening of the university, the university’s student leaders, led by Guild President William Kayongo, camped at the Parliament, protesting the continued closure of the institution. They said they would not leave until meeting the President.

April 19: House mourns Budo Children
Probably the most significant case Parliament had to grapple with this year was the fire that claimed the lives of 18 pupils of Budo Junior School. Tears flowed as legislators paid tribute to the slain girls. Education minister Geraldine Namirembe Bitamazire told Parliament that 18 girls and two unidentified adults had died in the fire. The Police, however, put the figure at 19childrenand one adult. Suzan Nakawuki (FDC) and Rosemary Sseninde (NRM) condemned the act of locking up pupils in dormitories at night without a matron to attend to them.
In the same week, legislators were mourning the passing of former colleague Emmanuel Pinto on April 13. Pinto was run over by his car, which he was repairing at his home in Muyenga.

April 26: Domestic Relations Bill Back
Although it received a lot of criticism from the Muslim community, the Domestic Relations Bill, also bounced back this year. The Uganda Law Reform Commission reviewed the controversial Bill and split it into two. One provides for Civil, Christian, Hindu, and Bahai marriage, while the other provides for Khadhis courts to deal with Islamic marriages. However, MPs showed concern why Christian, Bahai and Hindu ideologies were lumped together.

May 3: Parliament has no ambulance
Danish Ambassador Sting Barlying fell down and sustained a head injury, during a function at the Parliamentary gardens. He was rushed to an undisclosed hospital in his car. The incident brought to light the fact that Parliament lacked an ambulance for healthy emergencies.

may 6: Owen falls bridge cracks, mps show concern
The 54-year-old bridge at the Owen Falls Dam in Jinja developed cracks and there were fears that it would collapse any time. The members on the physical infrastructure committee said the Japanese government and the works ministry requested sh9b for the repairs.

July 5: MPs snub school fires probe
MPs snubbed a proposal to set up a committee to investigate the rampant fire outbreaks in schools. In a two-hour heated debate, the legislators particularly those from the NRM rejected a motion by Wakiso woman MP Rosemary Sseninde (NRM) who had suggested a body similar to Operation Wembley. However opposition MPs supported the proposal to set up a select committee to investigate the fires.

July 26: Parliament debates arrest of Mengo officials
The arrest of Mengo officials became a major talk in the House, prompting the MPs to demand an emergency sitting over the crisis. A total of 127 MPs, led by Butambala MP Ibrahim Kadunabbi Lubega, signed a petition, calling for a sitting to discuss the arrest of Peter Mayinga, Betty Namboze and Medard Lubega. Members of the defence and internal affairs committee threw out defence state minister Matia Kasaija over declining to brief the MPs on the whereabouts of the officials and why they had not been produced in court, a week after their arrest.
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he deputy speaker put the matter to vote which the opposition boycotted, protesting the procedure.

Sept 13: NSSF saga dominates Parliament
For the third week running, Parliament was dominated by the purchase of land by the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) from security minister Amama Mbabazi and business man Amos Nzeyi at sh11b. MPs investigating the saga received anonymous calls and messages from people trying to influence the inquiry. But the team led by John Odit warned that the sender would be tracked. Consequently, Odit summoned state minister for local government Hope Mwesigye to explain a message she sent to NRM MPs.

Aruu MP odonga Otto accused 5 MPS of taking a 170m bribe
Aruu MP Odonga Otto told the rules committee that he saw Butambala MP Ibrahim Kaddunnabi withdrawing at Stambic` Bank IPs Branch. This follows allegations that 5MPs were bribed sh170m to pass the CHOGM, however later on Otto failed to prove his evidence thus he was made to withdraw his statements and apologized before his colleagues over the allegations

August23;Police probe kicks off.
Parliamentary committee investigating into the police brutality kicked off probing MP suzan Nampijja, (Rubaga South) Erias Lukwago(Kampala Central),Odonga Otto(Aruu), Nabilah Naggayi(Kampala Woman), Sam Lyomoki (workers) This followed a heated debate that the police had beaten the MPS.

3MPs die this year:
MPS Dr. Isleal Kibirige Ssebunya(Kyadondo North), Kyaka Kyokuhairwa(isingiro), Francis Mugala(Ntoroko) Ojwok Omony (Abiny) have died this year. May the Lord rest their souls in peace.

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