Kadaga, opposition tango over independent MPs

Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga yesterday got into a tango with the opposition over the legal regime governing the designation of independent lawmakers on sessional committees.

Former Leader of Opposition in the Ninth Parliament, Nandala Mafabi (Budadiri West) and fiery Aruu County MP, Odonga Otto questioned the legality of the ‘Dean of Independents', Andrew Baryayanga (Kabale Municipality) designating MPs to sessional committees.

Nandala and Otto made their reservations yesterday during the designation of MPs to sessional committees.

"I am appealing to the Speaker to take this query in good faith. This being a House that follows the law, we want a clear position on how Independents are designated to committees," Nandala said.

The query followed a decision by the Government Chief Whip, Ruth Nankabirwa, and Baryayanga to designate Jacob Opolot, an independent to the Education Committee.

Nankabirwa went a step further and appointed Opolot an independent.

"I will give a written response on this matter at a later date," Kadaga said.

According to Parliament's Rules of Procedure, the Speaker of Parliament has the explicit mandate to handle affairs of Independent lawmakers, including designating them to committees.

Late last year, Kadaga scuppered attempts by Uganda's biggest opposition party, the Forum for Democratic Change to appoint Moses Kasibante (Rubaga North), an independent to be vice chairperson of the committee on commissions, statutory authorities, and state enterprise.

Kadaga reasoned that as an Independent, Kasibante could only be appointed to one of the four accountability committees of Parliament with her explicit approval. Ends.