Shadow cabinet reshuffled
Feb 06, 2009
THE August House, which last sat on December 18, 2008 reconvened on Tuesday after a recess. No sooner had Parliament reconvened than the two main parties reconstituted the membership of committees.
THE August House, which last sat on December 18, 2008 reconvened on Tuesday after a recess. No sooner had Parliament reconvened than the two main parties reconstituted the membership of committees.Â
NRM-chaired committees
The NRM caucus on Monday elected new leaders for the committees it chairs and appointed chief whips to committees chaired by the opposition. The caucus also appointed chief whips to committees chaired by NRM to ensure members toe the NRM line.
Budget committee chairperson William Oketcho has been replaced by Rose Akol. Kadunabbi Lubega, the economy chief, has been replaced by Mukitale Biraahwa.
The committee on HIV/AIDS will be chaired by Beatrice Rwakimari. Jalia Bintu, the equal opportunities chief was replaced by Anifa Kawooya.
Joseph Mugambe, the technology head was replaced by Charles Ngabirano.
Tindamanyire Kabondo is the NRM chief whip for the public accounts committee chaired by FDC’s Nandala Mafabi.
Jessica Alupo is the NRM whip for the committee on government assurances chaired by DP’s Issa Kikungwe. The committee on commissions will have Stephen Tashobya as NRM whip. The local government accounts committee chaired by FDC’s Geoffrey Ekanya has Milton Muwuma as NRM whip.
New MPS sworn in
Amidst ululations, Ssembabule Woman MP Anifa Kawooya, Fred Badda (Bujumba County) and Grace Byarugaba (Isingiro) were sworn in at Parliament after by-elections last December.
More support for the Cranes
MPs re-echoed the need for the Government to allocate more funds to sports. Legislators want the Government to provide budgetary support to enable football administrators tap talent from the grassroots.
In support of a motion to congratulate the Uganda Cranes for its victory in the CECAFA Cup moved by Dennis Obua (youth), MPs called for the amendment of the National Council of Sports Act 1964. Kampala Central MP Erias Lukwago warned of the poor legal framework to streamline sports administration.
Elijah Okupa (FDC), Hood Katuramu (NRM) and Odonga Otto (FDC) re-echoed the need for promotion of sports for unity amidst political diversity. Nakaseke Woman MP Rose Namayanja proposed that the Government exempts the national football team from paying 18% tax on gate collections on football matches and sports equipment.
Shadow cabinet Reshuffle
Opposition leader Prof. Ogenga Latigo was expected to announce the new opposition cabinet this week. However, he told Parliament on Wednesday that he could not because most of the opposition female members were in a workshop. He begged to announce them next week.
According to sources, at least four MPs will join the cabinet. They are Alice Alaso (Soroti Woman), Abdu Katuntu (Bugweri), Angiro Gutmoi and Charles Oduman (Bukedea). The changes will also see Kampala Woman MP Nabilah Ssempala, formerly information minister receive the portfolio of lands. Wilfred Kajeke (Mbale Municipality) is no longer the ICT minister, while Harry Kasigwa (Jinja Municipality West) loses his position as minister for energy.
Christopher Kibazanga (Busongora) takes on the ministry of information, while Gutmoi (UPC) takes over the defence ministry. Oduman replaces Nandala Mafabi (Budadiri West) as finance minister.
MPs summon Bitamazire over poor PLE results
THE parliamentary committee on social services summoned the Education minister, Namirembe Bitamazire, over poor performance in the 2008 Primary Leaving Examinations. Failures increased to 463,631 in 2008 from 419,206 in 2007, according to results released by the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) recently. Bitamazire has to explain the causes of the poor performance and what the ministry will do about it. The committee, chaired by Rosemary Seninde (NRM), also wants the minister to explain the fate of the children. UNEB attributed the poor performance to teacher and pupil absenteeism and late reporting and early departure of pupils from school.
Police punishes insubordinate officers - Kayihura
The Police force has always taken action against officers who commit crimes against civilians, the Inspector General of Police said. Appearing before the legal and parliamentary affairs committee, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura said 2,409 cases were investigated by the newly-created Professional Standards Unit (PSU) between July 2007 and December 2008.
Kayihura presented a status report on PSU Performance, dated January 2009. It shows that 1,058 cases have been completed and 1,375 are pending.
NRM-chaired committees
The NRM caucus on Monday elected new leaders for the committees it chairs and appointed chief whips to committees chaired by the opposition. The caucus also appointed chief whips to committees chaired by NRM to ensure members toe the NRM line.
Budget committee chairperson William Oketcho has been replaced by Rose Akol. Kadunabbi Lubega, the economy chief, has been replaced by Mukitale Biraahwa.
The committee on HIV/AIDS will be chaired by Beatrice Rwakimari. Jalia Bintu, the equal opportunities chief was replaced by Anifa Kawooya.
Joseph Mugambe, the technology head was replaced by Charles Ngabirano.
Tindamanyire Kabondo is the NRM chief whip for the public accounts committee chaired by FDC’s Nandala Mafabi.
Jessica Alupo is the NRM whip for the committee on government assurances chaired by DP’s Issa Kikungwe. The committee on commissions will have Stephen Tashobya as NRM whip. The local government accounts committee chaired by FDC’s Geoffrey Ekanya has Milton Muwuma as NRM whip.
New MPS sworn in
Amidst ululations, Ssembabule Woman MP Anifa Kawooya, Fred Badda (Bujumba County) and Grace Byarugaba (Isingiro) were sworn in at Parliament after by-elections last December.
More support for the Cranes
MPs re-echoed the need for the Government to allocate more funds to sports. Legislators want the Government to provide budgetary support to enable football administrators tap talent from the grassroots.
In support of a motion to congratulate the Uganda Cranes for its victory in the CECAFA Cup moved by Dennis Obua (youth), MPs called for the amendment of the National Council of Sports Act 1964. Kampala Central MP Erias Lukwago warned of the poor legal framework to streamline sports administration.
Elijah Okupa (FDC), Hood Katuramu (NRM) and Odonga Otto (FDC) re-echoed the need for promotion of sports for unity amidst political diversity. Nakaseke Woman MP Rose Namayanja proposed that the Government exempts the national football team from paying 18% tax on gate collections on football matches and sports equipment.
Shadow cabinet Reshuffle
Opposition leader Prof. Ogenga Latigo was expected to announce the new opposition cabinet this week. However, he told Parliament on Wednesday that he could not because most of the opposition female members were in a workshop. He begged to announce them next week.
According to sources, at least four MPs will join the cabinet. They are Alice Alaso (Soroti Woman), Abdu Katuntu (Bugweri), Angiro Gutmoi and Charles Oduman (Bukedea). The changes will also see Kampala Woman MP Nabilah Ssempala, formerly information minister receive the portfolio of lands. Wilfred Kajeke (Mbale Municipality) is no longer the ICT minister, while Harry Kasigwa (Jinja Municipality West) loses his position as minister for energy.
Christopher Kibazanga (Busongora) takes on the ministry of information, while Gutmoi (UPC) takes over the defence ministry. Oduman replaces Nandala Mafabi (Budadiri West) as finance minister.
MPs summon Bitamazire over poor PLE results
THE parliamentary committee on social services summoned the Education minister, Namirembe Bitamazire, over poor performance in the 2008 Primary Leaving Examinations. Failures increased to 463,631 in 2008 from 419,206 in 2007, according to results released by the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) recently. Bitamazire has to explain the causes of the poor performance and what the ministry will do about it. The committee, chaired by Rosemary Seninde (NRM), also wants the minister to explain the fate of the children. UNEB attributed the poor performance to teacher and pupil absenteeism and late reporting and early departure of pupils from school.
Police punishes insubordinate officers - Kayihura
The Police force has always taken action against officers who commit crimes against civilians, the Inspector General of Police said. Appearing before the legal and parliamentary affairs committee, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura said 2,409 cases were investigated by the newly-created Professional Standards Unit (PSU) between July 2007 and December 2008.
Kayihura presented a status report on PSU Performance, dated January 2009. It shows that 1,058 cases have been completed and 1,375 are pending.