Deputy Speaker flees chaotic Parliament debate

Aruu County MP Odonga Otto speaks to journalists outside Parliament yesterday after the stormy session. Photo by Geoffrey Sseruyange.

Drama ensued in Parliament yesterday after Arru MP Odonga Otto grabbed a list of members which was being used to force through a vote on the disputed Public Order and Management Bill, 2011, and ripped it into shreds in front of Deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanyah.

An afternoon filled with chaos also saw the Opposition label Mr Oulanyah a “disgrace” to the Acholi community.

The Deputy Speaker was forced to bring the session to a premature end and abandon the chamber as tempers flared.

Trouble started after he invoked Rule 80 of Parliament to suspend Mr Otto along with Lwemiyaga MP Theodore Sekikubo and Kyadondo East MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda whom he accused of “misconduct” on account of their opposition to the passing of the Bill.

The suspended MPs are to appear before the Parliament’s Disciplinary Committee.

In the ensuing chaos, Ms Beatrice Anywar (Kitgum Woman) poured water on the Despatch Table as other opposition MPs formed a ring around the Deputy Speaker.

They were shouting “no way”, “no way”, “procedure”, “procedure”, “let’s consult our people” protesting the manner in which Oulanyah was proceeding with the Bill they said is unconstitutional, hostile to democracy, freedom of association and freedom of speech.

MPs suspended
The suspension of their colleagues for three sittings sparked a loud protest forcing the Sargent at Arms to guard the Mace, the Speaker’s symbol of power. In the confusion, the affected members refused to vacate the chamber.

With the situation deteriorating further, the Sargent at Arms advised Mr Oulanyah to adjourn the House, which advice he gladly took in adjourning to Tuesday moments before he fled the chamber.

Before the drama Mr Oulanyah said: “Parliament cannot act as the Constitutional Court, let’s do what we can, this will not be the first time the Constitutional Court annuls an Act of Parliament.”

Lawmakers later accused the Deputy Speaker of denying members the right to be heard and instead pushing for the interests of the government in total disregard of the implications of what they called “a bad law”.

After the dramatic scenes on the floor, the opposition convened a crisis meeting chaired by acting leader Winnie Kiiza.

Earlier, in an afternoon session, Mr Oulanyah, with members raising procedural objections against a Bill that seeks to restore the police’s powers to regulate public meetings and demonstrations, insisted on “roll call and tally” voting method.

The Constitutional Court had, years ago, declared similar powers, then residing in the Police Act, unconstitutional.

“I have no regrets and this is the last time I am attending a House session chaired by this biased man, Oulanyah. We want his conduct investigated. How can Speaker behave like a mercenary. We are going to write to Speaker Rebecca Kadaga to look into his behaviour,” Mr Otto later told the Daily Monitor

He added: “Whatever they are doing is illegitimate, why are they putting handcuffs on the Opposition? This is a human rights issue; you cannot stop members from talking.”

While Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi had told the House that by bringing the Public Order Management Bill, the government wants to limit the powers of the police, Attorney General Fred Ruhindi said the Constitutional Court ruling in the Muwanga Kivumbi petition created a gap in the law.

However, Mr Kivumbi told the House that the proposed legislation seeks to authorise the police to trample on the fundamental human rights of Ugandans and demanded that the Clause 8 of the Bill reconsidered.

The Government Chief Whip, Ms Justine Lumumba, who had mobilised the NRM side to come and pass the Bill said: “The behaviour of those MPs is an indication that they did not have enough parenting because this is a clear sign of their poor upbringing. What they did was uncalled for, immature, unparliamentary and they should be disciplined.”

Even though legal minds, civil society groups and political analysts have disparaged the Bill as “unconstitutional”, the government insists it intends to lay down measures for safeguarding public order.

Opposition pleads
However, the Opposition made a frantic appeal to the NRM side and to the deputy Speaker to see sense in their demand that the clause be recommitted to protect the fundamental freedoms and human rights as embedded in the 1995 Constitution and in several regional and international human rights instruments.

Other lawmakers led by Kampala Central MP Muhammad Nsereko (Kampala Central) appealed to Mr Oulanyah to allow members consult their constituents on the proposed law that seeks to reinstate Section 32 (2) of the Police Act which was nullified by the Constitutional Court.

The opposition also took exception with Clause 4 which gives the Inspector General of Police powers to direct the conduct of all public meetings.

Amid shouting from members, calling Mr Oulanyah names, the Deputy Speaker put a question for the recommittal of Clause 8 following a motion by Dr Lulume Bayiga but the NRM side overwhelmingly voted “No” clearing the way for the Bill to proceed.

Mr Oulanyah reminded the Opposition that they must respect the right of the majority.