Kadaga defends Sematimba's presence in Parliament

The Speaker of Parliament Rebecca has defended the presence of Busiro South constituency Member of Parliament (MP) Peter Sematimba in the House saying she has not yet received any orders directing her on the matter.

"I don't rely on newspapers. Court has not yet sent me any orders concerning the honourable member," she said.

Kadaga was responding to Makindye East MP Allan Ssewanyana's concerns on whether Sematimba was legally in the house after court nullified his election.

"Hon. Speaker is it in order for Hon. Peter Sematimba to sit in this House when we all know that Court recently cancelled the results?" Ssewanyana asked after rising on a point of order.

Parked to capacity, all members turned their eyes on Sematimba. He quietly waited for the Speaker's ruling as he typed something on his phone. When Kadaga ruled in the affirmative, Sematimba looked relieved and smiled at Ssewanyana. 

Later he was given an opportunity to contribute on a motion by government to increase the number of ministers.

Sematimba said a big cabinet would enable government achieve its goals of taking Uganda to a middle income status by 2020.

Although he supported the motion, many members seemed to have missed his submission due to the heavy English accent he deployed for his maiden speech.

On Friday, court declared the seat vacant and ordered fresh elections. This was after Sematimba's opponent Democratic Party's Stephen Ssekigozi questioned his academic papers.

Although Sematimba told court that these were cleared by the National Council of Higher Education (NCHE) which issued him a Certificate of Equivalence that he presented to Electoral Commission during parliamentary nominations, the Judge ruled that the NCHE irregularly issued him with the certificate and that his candidacy was therefore illegal.

While testifying in court, NCHE executive director, Prof John Asibo, said Sematimba has an Ordinary Level certificate from Kings College Buddo, a pre-medicine transcript from Asuza Pacific University and a diploma in electrical and computer technology from Pacific Coast Technical Institute, both in the United States of America.

Prof Asibo said on the basis of these qualifications, the council granted a certificate of Advanced Level equivalent to enable Sematimba participate in the Busiro South Constituency parliamentary elections.

DP President Nobert Mao addressing the press today urged Sematimba to go back to school. Photo by Peter Busomoke

He, however, said the council did not verify the authenticity of Sematimba's diploma in Electronic and Computer Technology from Pacific Technical Institute in the United States before relying on it to grant him a certificate of A-Level equivalent last year.

Sematimba has since appealed against the ruling in the Court of Appeal

‘Go back to school'

Meanwhile DP has advised Sematimba to go back to school instead of appealing the court verdict that kicked him out of parliament.

Party president Norbert Mao applauded court for delivering justice but voiced his disappointment with Prof Asibo for siding with Sematimba yet the council failed to authentically certify his papers.

Mao said that they are formally writing to the NCHE to complain about Prof Asibo's conduct.

He confirmed that DP is opening nominations for the party flag for Busiro South though he thinks Steven Sekigozi will still be a better candidate to carry the party flag.