MPs ‘fight’ for title honourable
Sep 01, 2007
THE issue of some councillors calling themselves “honourables†has raised eyebrows in Parliament. Kitgum Woman MP Beatrice Anywar told Parliament on Thursday that councillors in her district had started referring to themselves as “honourables†and signing official documents as such.
By Joyce Namutebi
and Cyprian Musoke
THE issue of some councillors calling themselves “honourables†has raised eyebrows in Parliament. Kitgum Woman MP Beatrice Anywar told Parliament on Thursday that councillors in her district had started referring to themselves as “honourables†and signing official documents as such.
She asked the local government minister, Hope Mwesigye, to clarify who should be entitled to use the title, which was hitherto reserved for MPs.
“Power must go with recognition and titles. What is wrong with councillors calling themselves honourables when they are doing honourable work?†Mwesigye asked.
Her response that legislators were “honourable MPs,†while the others were “honourable councillors†prompted Kumi MP, Patrick Amuriat, to wonder whether this was the official government position.
The Deputy Attorney General, Fred Ruhindi, later shed more light on the matter. “The word ‘honourable’ is not a title,†he explained. “It is an expression of respect which any deserving person can be called by. No one should claim it as personal to the holder.â€
He advised that deserving persons be careful regarding the use of the title. “They should not call themselves honourables. It should be the people to call them so,†Ruhindi said.
and Cyprian Musoke
THE issue of some councillors calling themselves “honourables†has raised eyebrows in Parliament. Kitgum Woman MP Beatrice Anywar told Parliament on Thursday that councillors in her district had started referring to themselves as “honourables†and signing official documents as such.
She asked the local government minister, Hope Mwesigye, to clarify who should be entitled to use the title, which was hitherto reserved for MPs.
“Power must go with recognition and titles. What is wrong with councillors calling themselves honourables when they are doing honourable work?†Mwesigye asked.
Her response that legislators were “honourable MPs,†while the others were “honourable councillors†prompted Kumi MP, Patrick Amuriat, to wonder whether this was the official government position.
The Deputy Attorney General, Fred Ruhindi, later shed more light on the matter. “The word ‘honourable’ is not a title,†he explained. “It is an expression of respect which any deserving person can be called by. No one should claim it as personal to the holder.â€
He advised that deserving persons be careful regarding the use of the title. “They should not call themselves honourables. It should be the people to call them so,†Ruhindi said.