MP Lyomoki sleeps in Parliament over delayed NSSF Bill

Workers' MP Dr Sam Lyomoki spent Wednesday night in the Parliamentary chambers protesting what he described as the delayed passing of the National Social Security (NSSF) Amendment Bill.

Some cleaners who turned up to mop the chambers at 6:00 am on Thursday were shocked to find Lyomoki deep asleep on one of the chairs.

Lyomoki later said: "I will also go on a hunger strike if the House fails to pass the NSSF Bill into law."

The security personnel manning Parliament, who preferred anonymity, confirmed that Lyomoki spent the night in the Parliamentary chambers.

"He slept dressed in a blue suit, with a neck tie and black shoes.

He spent at least six hours, from 8:00pm to 1:00am, praying to God and singing hymns until he was overpowered by sleep," said the security officer.

Lyomoki, who woke up at 9:00am and addressed the press, said Aruu County MP Odonga Otto kept him company, but left at around midnight.

"Since March, when the lockdown started, NSSF members have been pushing for the passing of the NSSF Bill to enable them get 20% of their savings to cushion them from the economic hardships created by the COVID-19 economic crisis.

"I spent part of the night praying for President Yoweri Museveni and the Speaker of Parliament to ensure that the NSSF Bill is passed into law.

"I will mobilise more legislators to spend nights in the chambers when the House resumes, until the NSSF Bill is passed into law," he said.

"Yesterday, I came prepared with my small mattress, mosquito net and pyjamas, but the Parliament security personnel confiscated them, which left me with no option but to sleep in my suit," Lyomoki added.

President Yoweri Museveni recently met MPs on the committee that has been handling the Bill and cautioned them against the proposal for the 20% payment to NSSF members, arguing that it could negatively affect NSSF.

On Thursday, the House was supposed to debate and pass the NSSF Amendment Bill 2019, but failed to do so due to the absence of the gender and finance ministers, who were expected to give a report on the Bill.

When Speaker Rebecca Kadaga asked Lyomoki why he had not pitched camp at the finance ministry's headquarters, he said: "The Bill is before this Parliament, not at the finance ministry."

Genesis of the matter

Kadaga was on Wednesday forced to prematurely adjourn the Parliament sitting as Lyomoki protested against the delayed passing of the NSSF Amendment Bill.

Trouble started when the time for the second reading of the Bill came and no minister was willing to present it.

The Minister for Public Service, Muruli Mukasa, appealed to the House to postpone the matter for two weeks, when the relevant minister will be present for the second reading of the Bill.

Even on Tuesday, the same Bill could not be handled by Parliament because the gender minister was not around to present it for the second reading.

Objecting to the minister's plea, Lyomoki demanded that the Speaker allows the chairperson of the committee, Alex Ndezi, to read the report. He also asked the Speaker to direct the relevant minister to turn up the following day for the second reading.

Lyomoki wondered why the newly appointed minister for the elderly, Sarah Kanyike, who had just read the Labour Disputes (Arbitration and Settlement) Amendment Bill, could not read the NSSF Bill since she is also from the gender, labour and social development ministry.

Ndezi informed Parliament that the committee had finished processing the Bill and that he was ready to present it.

The Speaker allayed Lyomoki's fears, saying she put the Bill on the order paper because she wanted it to be passed.

"I am also anxious to get the Bill out of the way. It is my office that has been getting so many petitions over the Bill. I am putting the minister on notice to know that in the first sitting of Parliament after the primaries, we must have this Bill handled," she said.

It is at that point that Lyomoki notified the Speaker and the House that he had come with his bedding, which he would sleep on in the Parliament chambers, starting that day in protest over the delayed passing of the Bill.

However, Kadaga advised him to go and camp at the finance ministry offices, instead of the Parliament chambers.

She also asked Lyomoki to take his seat, but the legislator defied the Speaker, saying: "No. I will not take my seat. The NSSF Bill has to be passed. We cannot wait any longer. The workers are tired of waiting."

It is at this point that Kadaga adjourned the House.