Kadaga: I’m under pressure to suffocate Opposition

PARLIAMENT

Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga revealed yesterday that she has come under pressure from unnamed individuals within the ruling National Resistance Movement party to deny the Opposition chance to debate freely in the House.

Ms Kadaga said at a thanksgiving ceremony to mark the end of the 1st session of the 9th Parliament and the successful hosting of the 126th Inter-Parliamentary Union conference that she has resisted similar pressures from donors to drop the Anti-Homosexuality Bill.

But she insisted she will remain neutral even though she is a member of the ruling party which years ago had the House under its wing when former Speaker, and current Vice President, Edward Ssekandi, was in charge.

“There are those who think that opposition voices should be muzzled, that is not my responsibility,” Ms Kadaga said while also recognising that the media, civil society and clergy have contributed to Parliament’s improved image.

Under Ms Kadaga, the House has rattled the government as a core of opposition, independent and some ruling party MPs vigorously lead the House’s constitutional oversight functions in a re-energised fight against widespread corruption.

The Speaker said there have been many challenges along the way, “but we have fought hard to find our level of participation in government as the Legislative arm. I appeal to MPs to remain focused”.

“We thank Parliament and the people of Uganda for supporting us during this first year in Parliament. Some people felt since I am NRM, I should silence the opposition but I said no. I am the Speaker for everybody,” said Ms Kadaga.

Her comments were prompted by deputy government Chief Whip, Mr David Bahati, who noted at the same function that “we have falsely accused the Speaker of favouring the opposition”. Her non-partisan approach has left some senior NRM officials distressed.

Oil debate
When she allowed the oil debate last year which saw Premier Amama Mbabazi, Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kutesa and Internal Affairs minister Hillary Onek accused of accepting bribes from oil exploration firms, the Speaker came under fire. But the public interest, she said, remains foremost among the reasons she will not be scared off the anti-graft fight.

Ms Kadaga’s relationship with Mr Mbabazi has also deteriorated over what some party sources suspect could be rivalries surrounding the Museveni succession debate.

President Museveni early this year failed to end the feud between the two at a meeting at State House attended by Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Nandala Mafabi. Mr Mafabi is reported to have accused the Premier, who is also leader of government business in the House, of conniving to frustrate the Speaker by denying Parliament work.

Meanwhile, Ms Kadaga said that during IPU, delegates especially from the European Union demanded that the country drops the Anti-Homosexuality Bill. “But I assured them that we are debating laws for the people of Uganda not them so I told them to stop their arrogance,” she said.

In prayers led by Kampala Catholic Archdiocese spokesperson, Msgr Wynand Katende, the religious leaders prayed for peace as they emphasised the Church’s obligation to guide society by commenting on political issues that affect society. Ms Kadaga applauded them for their guidance to political leaders.

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