Sweet revenge for NRM
Jan 11, 2008
THIS week saw two additions to the parliamentary body, when the NRM won the Samia-Bugwe north and Labwor parliamentary by-elections on Tuesday.
THIS week saw two additions to the parliamentary body, when the NRM won the Samia-Bugwe north and Labwor parliamentary by-elections on Tuesday. Sarah Mwebaza trounced her main challenger, Kevinah Taaka (FDC) with 12,806 votes, while in Labwor, the Rev. Florence Adong Omwony replaced her late husband, the former planning state minister, Omwony Ojwok. FDC rejected the results but the spokesperson, Wafula Oguttu, said they would not challenge the results, “although there were widespread irregularitiesâ€. It was sweet revenge for the NRM, which was recently defeated in Bugweri. Both victors are the spouses of the immediate past holders of the seats.
MP Kamba faces defamation charges
If MP Saleh Kamba had been in the seventh Parliament, he would have known, as former Rubaga South MP Ken Lukyamuzi testifies, that it is a tall order to challenge the office of the Speaker. This week, the House committee on rules, discipline and privileges tightened its grip on him to proceed with the probe into allegations that the Kibuku MP uttered defamatory statements against Deputy Speaker Rebecca Kadaga. Kamba had challenged a decision by Kadaga to petition the committee and also questioned the committee’s mandate to handle the matter. Kadaga wants action taken against Kamba, who a week ago told the NRM caucus that she distributed money to voters in Bugweri to vote against third Deputy Premier, Al Hajji Kirunda Kivenjinja. Kivejinja lost to FDC’s Abdu Katuntu in a by-election.
MPs demand more food for refugees
MPs also put on their humanitarian armour on Tuesday. Under the Uganda parliamentarians Forum on Food Security, they asked the Government to increase food supplies to Kenyan refugees. West Budama MP William Okecho and Tororo MP Grace Oburu said the number of refugees fleeing kenyan post-election violence was rising, straining the district’s food capacity. They said there were about 2,500 refugees in Tororo and several in Malaba and Busia.
Acholi MPs back Mengo on land
The Acholi Parliamentary Group on Monday backed the Buganda Lukiiko (parliament) on its position on the proposed amendments to the land Act. The deputy chairperson of the group, Reagan Okumu, said they would mobilise Parliament and at constituency level to ensure that the Bill does not go through. He said they had agreed that no land in Acholi would be sold to investors until all displaced persons returned to their villages.
Erias Lukwago blows whistle on sale of school land
On Monday, Kampala Central MP Erias Lukwago blew the whistle on a private developer who has been given Nabagereka Primary school land, leaving the fate of over 350 pupils in the balance. The developer has given the school notice to vacate the land by Monday. The notice does not mention the school as a sitting tenant, but school authorities insist that the plots mentioned are where the school is located. The notice is also copied to the headmaster. The Kisenyi community, led by Kampala Central MP Erias Lukwago, is up in arms against the eviction. “The law says a sitting tenant must be given first priority to develop the land. But these tenants have not been given a chance,†he said. “This is the only Universal Primary School left in Kampala city,†Lukwago added. That is what we call a good fight, Lukwago.
MP Kamba faces defamation charges
If MP Saleh Kamba had been in the seventh Parliament, he would have known, as former Rubaga South MP Ken Lukyamuzi testifies, that it is a tall order to challenge the office of the Speaker. This week, the House committee on rules, discipline and privileges tightened its grip on him to proceed with the probe into allegations that the Kibuku MP uttered defamatory statements against Deputy Speaker Rebecca Kadaga. Kamba had challenged a decision by Kadaga to petition the committee and also questioned the committee’s mandate to handle the matter. Kadaga wants action taken against Kamba, who a week ago told the NRM caucus that she distributed money to voters in Bugweri to vote against third Deputy Premier, Al Hajji Kirunda Kivenjinja. Kivejinja lost to FDC’s Abdu Katuntu in a by-election.
MPs demand more food for refugees
MPs also put on their humanitarian armour on Tuesday. Under the Uganda parliamentarians Forum on Food Security, they asked the Government to increase food supplies to Kenyan refugees. West Budama MP William Okecho and Tororo MP Grace Oburu said the number of refugees fleeing kenyan post-election violence was rising, straining the district’s food capacity. They said there were about 2,500 refugees in Tororo and several in Malaba and Busia.
Acholi MPs back Mengo on land
The Acholi Parliamentary Group on Monday backed the Buganda Lukiiko (parliament) on its position on the proposed amendments to the land Act. The deputy chairperson of the group, Reagan Okumu, said they would mobilise Parliament and at constituency level to ensure that the Bill does not go through. He said they had agreed that no land in Acholi would be sold to investors until all displaced persons returned to their villages.
Erias Lukwago blows whistle on sale of school land
On Monday, Kampala Central MP Erias Lukwago blew the whistle on a private developer who has been given Nabagereka Primary school land, leaving the fate of over 350 pupils in the balance. The developer has given the school notice to vacate the land by Monday. The notice does not mention the school as a sitting tenant, but school authorities insist that the plots mentioned are where the school is located. The notice is also copied to the headmaster. The Kisenyi community, led by Kampala Central MP Erias Lukwago, is up in arms against the eviction. “The law says a sitting tenant must be given first priority to develop the land. But these tenants have not been given a chance,†he said. “This is the only Universal Primary School left in Kampala city,†Lukwago added. That is what we call a good fight, Lukwago.