Parliament approves 16 new districts
May 04, 2010
PARLIAMENT has approved the creation of 16 new districts including Maracha, which had sparked off “bad blood†between the opposition chief whip, Kassiano Wadri and Alex Onzima formerly of FDC.
By Joyce Namutebi
and Catherine Bekunda
PARLIAMENT has approved the creation of 16 new districts including Maracha, which had sparked off “bad blood†between the opposition chief whip, Kassiano Wadri and Alex Onzima formerly of FDC.
The other districts are Kalungu, Bukomansimbi, Butambala, Lwengo, Mitooma, Rubirizi, Kibingo (Sheema), Nsika (Buhweju), Ngora, Napak, Kibuku, Nwoya. Kole, Agago and Kween. The districts take effect July 2010.
MPs voted on the districts by show of hands. Buhweju received the highest support with 195 votes, while Maracha got the least, with 167 votes.
Voting went on smoothly until the deputy Speaker, Rebecca Kadaga, called for voting on Maracha-Terego. Wadri then rose up and warned that Parliament was in breach of the Constitution.
Odonga Otto and Patrick Amuriat said that in order to achieve a “win-win situation, Parliament should treat each of the two counties (Maracha and Terego) separately.
Kadaga, however, dismissed the argument and put the matter to vote, but before she announced the results, Amuriat, Michael Ocula and Wadri walked out of Parliament.
Some opposition MPs stayed and voted in favour of the creation of Maracha–Terego. Shortly after the MPs voted to transfer Terego county back to Arua district. A number of other opposition MPs walked out in protest.
Last week, Parliament deferred approval of the creation of the new districts because there were fewer MPs than required.
and Catherine Bekunda
PARLIAMENT has approved the creation of 16 new districts including Maracha, which had sparked off “bad blood†between the opposition chief whip, Kassiano Wadri and Alex Onzima formerly of FDC.
The other districts are Kalungu, Bukomansimbi, Butambala, Lwengo, Mitooma, Rubirizi, Kibingo (Sheema), Nsika (Buhweju), Ngora, Napak, Kibuku, Nwoya. Kole, Agago and Kween. The districts take effect July 2010.
MPs voted on the districts by show of hands. Buhweju received the highest support with 195 votes, while Maracha got the least, with 167 votes.
Voting went on smoothly until the deputy Speaker, Rebecca Kadaga, called for voting on Maracha-Terego. Wadri then rose up and warned that Parliament was in breach of the Constitution.
Odonga Otto and Patrick Amuriat said that in order to achieve a “win-win situation, Parliament should treat each of the two counties (Maracha and Terego) separately.
Kadaga, however, dismissed the argument and put the matter to vote, but before she announced the results, Amuriat, Michael Ocula and Wadri walked out of Parliament.
Some opposition MPs stayed and voted in favour of the creation of Maracha–Terego. Shortly after the MPs voted to transfer Terego county back to Arua district. A number of other opposition MPs walked out in protest.
Last week, Parliament deferred approval of the creation of the new districts because there were fewer MPs than required.