Parliament to expedite unfinished tasks ahead of 2021 elections

As the clock ticks towards the commencement of key activities for the 2021 general election, the 10th Parliament has limited time to accomplish its unfinished business.

Since nominations for the local government positions are scheduled to take place soon and nominations for the parliamentary candidates scheduled to take place on October 12, it means Parliament has only two weeks to accomplish the remaining business.

The last time Parliament was in session, which is about three weeks ago, the attendance of the MPs was at its lowest: only 20 MPs, out of a Parliament of 458 legislators.

Some of the unfinished businesses, with high public interest, include the National Social Security Fund Amendment Bill, the Local Content Bill, which was returned by President Yoweri Museveni; several loans that are yet to be approved and the Constitutional Amendment Bill, which contains electoral reforms.

Many MPs are also eagerly waiting to know the proposals Parliament will recommend to the Government to resuscitate the economy.

The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, tasked the parliamentary committee on national economy, with consulting various stakeholders on the necessary interventions for the economy and stimulus packages for Ugandans.

The committee finished the consultations and is expected to present the report for debate when Parliament resumes this week Due to the rising political temperature, which is why campaigns have always started even before the official scheduled timelines for commencement, it will be almost impossible to convene a parliamentary sitting after the next two to three weeks.

This means that whatever the leadership of Parliament and the Government want to be expeditiously done, should be handled in these remaining few days. The Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Betty Aol, said she wants Parliament to prioritise the NSSF Bill, passing of recommendations on what needs to be done to resuscitate the economy, passing of the Constitutional Amendment Bill and proper guidelines for the new cities.

She also wants a thorough debate on what to do for the education sector, which is still in lockdown. "COVID-19 has created many problems. People have lost jobs. Many companies are struggling to survive. Many Ugandans are facing financial hardships. Parliament can help in proposing solutions. That is why we need to expeditiously pass the NSSF Bill to enable Ugandans to access some of their savings," Aol said.