Drama as MPs pass kings Bill

Parliament Tuesday turned riotous as the ruling party MPs used their numerical strength to pass the controversial Institution of Traditional and Cultural Leaders Bill 2010 in a sitting that nearly ended in fist fights.

Speaker Edward Ssekandi faced a hard time trying to maintain order when tempers flared. Lawmakers heckled each other and emotion got the better part of them-- exchanging spiteful words.

There was fracas in the lobby after some NRM MPs led by Gen. Elly Tumwiine (Army) and Capt. Guma Gumisiriza (Ibanda North), among others, attempted to mock a section of opposition Buganda lawmakers for losing their bid to block the passing of the Bill.

Buganda MPs led by Latif Ssebaggala (Kawempe North), Betty Nambooze (Mukono North), Hussein Kyanjo (Makindye East), Ssozi Kaddu-Mukasa (Mityana), Erias Lukwago (Kampala Central) and Susan Nakawuki (Busiiro East) attacked NRM MPs for using the Bill to kill kingdoms.

“Go away from here, this is our own caucus; we are tired of you people. You don’t have kingdoms in your areas and now you want to abolish our kingdoms,” Mr Latif shouted at the NRM MPs who poured scorn on the Buganda lawmakers as Mr Guma tussled it out with Nambooze. It took the intervention of the police to calm the situation.

“We know you went to the bush, but that doesn’t give you authority to insult our cultures. How can you ask us where we were when you were fighting when you even ate my fathers’ cows and you have not compensated us?” Mr Kyanjo shouted.
Mr Guma retorted: “Those are words of hatred; how can a whole MP make those inciting statements? These MPs are the enemies of their king. Otherwise, involving traditional leaders was the reason why we had the 1966 crisis.”

Attempt to block passing
In attempting to block the second reading of the Bill they said was unconstitutional and brought in bad faith, Buganda MPs lost on every point—blaming their woes on Speaker Edward Ssekandi whom they accused of siding with the NRM. Others accused NRM MPs of pocketing Shs20 million “bribe” to rush the passing of the Bill.

Buganda NRM MPs led by Abraham Byandala (Katikamu North) and Umar Mayiwa (Kalungu East), who had earlier in their caucus meeting that sat at 9:45am resolved to reject the Bill, joined other NRM MPs in pushing for the passing of the Bill.

Only Peter Mutuluuza (Mawokota North), Sylvia Namabidde (Mityana Woman) and Farida Nalubega (Youth Central) stood up to be counted in rejecting the Bill. Sensing the amount of hostility the issue had generated, the Speaker turned to voting by show of hands.

Up went the hands but several opposition MPs rose on points of procedure, asking the motive behind rushing the Bill even after the Attorney General Prof Khiddu Makubuya warned the government in a November 17 letter to President Museveni to go slow on a Bill he said was unconstitutional.

The Bill seeks to bar kings from engaging in partisan politics.