Suspended MPs return to house tomorrow
May 17, 2010
THE five MPs who were suspended last week, will resume their parliamentary duties tomorrow.
By Madinah Tebajjukira
THE five MPs who were suspended last week, will resume their parliamentary duties tomorrow.
The deputy Speaker, Rebecca Kadaga, last week suspended Geoffrey Ekanya (Tororo county), Odonga Otto (Aruu), Beatrice Anywar (Kitgum), Michael Ocula (Kilak) and Christine Bako Abia (Arua) for ‘gross misconduct’.
The legislators, who belong to the main opposition party, the Forum for Democratic Change, were suspended for three sittings.
However, when contacted yesterday, Kadaga declined to comment on the matter.
The acting leader of the opposition in Parliament, Kassiano Wadri, said according to parliamentary rules of procedure, the MPs’ suspension took effect on Wednesday (last week), the day they were suspended, meaning their suspension ended on Sunday.
Abia and Anywar said they will report to Parliament today.
But Ekanya claimed that he was back in Parliament on grounds that the suspension was ‘null and void’.
However, when The New Vision checked his office, he was not in.
Last Wednesday, drama ensued at Parliament when Kadaga suspended the MPs. But the MPs refused to vacate the chamber, forcing Kadaga to adjourn business prematurely.
Kadaga’s action was related to an incident that happened last week when opposition MPs caused commotion after she declined to allow them raise issues relating to electoral reforms and the ongoing voter registration update.
THE five MPs who were suspended last week, will resume their parliamentary duties tomorrow.
The deputy Speaker, Rebecca Kadaga, last week suspended Geoffrey Ekanya (Tororo county), Odonga Otto (Aruu), Beatrice Anywar (Kitgum), Michael Ocula (Kilak) and Christine Bako Abia (Arua) for ‘gross misconduct’.
The legislators, who belong to the main opposition party, the Forum for Democratic Change, were suspended for three sittings.
However, when contacted yesterday, Kadaga declined to comment on the matter.
The acting leader of the opposition in Parliament, Kassiano Wadri, said according to parliamentary rules of procedure, the MPs’ suspension took effect on Wednesday (last week), the day they were suspended, meaning their suspension ended on Sunday.
Abia and Anywar said they will report to Parliament today.
But Ekanya claimed that he was back in Parliament on grounds that the suspension was ‘null and void’.
However, when The New Vision checked his office, he was not in.
Last Wednesday, drama ensued at Parliament when Kadaga suspended the MPs. But the MPs refused to vacate the chamber, forcing Kadaga to adjourn business prematurely.
Kadaga’s action was related to an incident that happened last week when opposition MPs caused commotion after she declined to allow them raise issues relating to electoral reforms and the ongoing voter registration update.