It was a week when MPs resumed business after a long Christmas recess and Matheniko County MP Abura Pirirr also made the historical threat to undress in order to block the Land Bill.
Housing state minister Michael Werikhe tabled the Bill to Parliament presided over by the Speaker, Edward Ssekandi.

Dokolo County MP Felix Okot Ogong (NRM), also made futile attempts to block the Bill.
The chairperson of the physical infrastructure committee, Nathan Byanyima, assured the public that wider consultations would be carried out on the proposed amendments.

MUBS has no land titles
A day after the controversial Bill was tabled, Parliament heard that Makerere University Business School (MUBS) has no land title. MUBS University Principal Wasswa Balunywa told the parliamentary committee on public accounts that lack of titles had led to encroachment on the university’s land by private developers. Plot 3-21(13.32 acres) located on Faraday Road Bugolobi, a city suburb, was allocated to the university in 1994 by the Uganda Land Commission.

ICT minister summoned over masts
The parliamentary committee on Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) chaired by Kigulu County North MP Edward Baliddawa Kafufu on Wednesday summoned the ICT minister, Dr. Ham Mulira and the Uganda Communications Commission over mushrooming masts erected by telecommunication companies. The committee wants to know whether the masts do not have long term effects on people.

Elderly want representation
in Parliament
The elderly persons want representation in Parliament. In a 10-page petition to Parliament signed by over 100 elders, they observed that there is need for older persons to be represented at all levels, from local councils to Parliament. The elderly said two councilors representing the elderly shall be elected by the associations of the elderly, forming an electoral college to LC5.

MPS quiz tourism officials over
CHOGM funds
Members of parliament on the Parliament select committee on CHOGM on Wednesday questioned why the ministry of Tourism and Trade spent sh1.3b for training hotel in-service personnel for CHOGM.

Kabarole woman MP Margaret Muhanga said the cost of training hotel personnel could have been borne by the hotel owners since they benefited from the summit. Muhanga also argued that the job of inspecting CHOGM projects could have been done by one ministry to avoid unnecessary expenses.

Akena launches Waragi bicycle
Lira Municipality MP James Akena launched a 50CC (Cubic Capacity) engine that uses local waragi mixed with petrol. The engine, the first of its kind in the country does not require oil to run. When fixed, the bicycle can move without the cyclist peddling.