Let Ugandans seek greener pastures abroad – Rugunda

PARLIAMENT.

The Prime Minister, Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, says it is okay for Ugandans to hunt for jobs outside the country arguing that in the long run, it benefits Uganda more.

Dr Rugunda was responding to a question from the Upe County MP on whether government can stop the labour migration abroad.

It was the Prime Minister’s Question Time (PMQT), and for 45 minutes every Wednesday, Mr Rugunda is expected to respond to a plethora of policy questions from members not necessarily with pinpoint precision but at least show effort.

“Many Ugandans are leaving the country in search of greener pastures,” Mr Christopher Kipterit Akorikimoi said, asking what government’s plan to stop it was.
“It is only reasonable that Ugandans both within the country and those outside, look for better opportunities,” Mr Rugunda said.

“If Ugandans have legally gone for better jobs, better opportunities, it is good for the country and those individuals. When they go, they know Uganda is their country. Quite often, the country becomes a beneficiary because these Ugandans remit a substantial amount of money to their families and we all gain from that,” he explained.

According to World Bank data released in April 2016, Uganda received remittances to the tune of Shs3.6 trillion from its citizens living and working abroad.

The PMQT is a parliamentary practice borrowed from the UK’s House of Commons where MPs give on-the-spot questions to the Prime Minster every Wednesday on issues of policy and government plans and the premier is expected to have answers on his fingertips.

The questions are supposed to be precise, such as one by Soroti Woman MP, Angelina Osegge.

“Is government aware of the increasing school fees in both private and government-aided schools and what is it doing about it?” she asked.
“The private sector is a little more tricky. However, the ministry of Education gives general guidelines even to private institutions,” the Prime Minister responded, adding: “A more comprehensive and authoritative statement on this matter can be brought to this House so that Members of Parliament can make an input in this policy proposal because it affects wanainchi.”

But the difference between PMQT in the House of Commons and that of Uganda is that whereas in the UK, the Premier is expected to have all answers on the fingertips; the Uganda MPs were cautioned against asking “testing questions” aimed at exposing the knowledge or lack of it of the Prime Minister.

This means Dr Rugunda has the luxury of ducking a question and ask for more time to bring a “comprehensive report” or entirely pass it to the relevant minister.
For instance, when the Busia District Woman MP, Ms Jane Nabulindo Kwoba, asked about government’s policy on gold mining, saying locals in her district are being exploited by the licensees, the Premier simply said he would ask the State minister for Mining to investigate the charges of exploitation and accordingly inform the House.

However, during the Wednesday PMQT, there were a series of questions the Premier took head-on.

On the conflicting messages about polyethylene bags, the Bukoto East MP, Ms Florence Namayanja, said some officials say the government banned them, yet others say it did not, and asked what the exact government position was?
The Prime Minister was unequivocal in his response.

“Cabinet banned polyethylene of 50 microns. What is happening is enforcement to ensure that it is the actualised practise,” he said.

Then Mbale Municipality’s Jack Wamanga Wamai, asked about what the government is doing to check the incidence of diabetes.

“The focus of the government is foremost education because different types of diabetes can be prevented through proper nutrition and exercise,” Mr Rugunda, himself a medical doctor, responded.

The more detailed response of the afternoon was to Manjiya’s John Nambeshe’s question on what government’s plan is regarding regulating illegal fire arms in the country.

“There is already adequate legislation. For instance, the Firearms Act. But, there is a lacuna, Dr Rugunda said. There are illegal arms especially from across the border,” Dr Rugunda said, not mentioning any particular neighbouring country.
“Maybe it is from there that criminally-minded people get the weapons. The government is now coursing towards crafting a Bill that will tightly control the use of small arms.”

Uganda shares borders with Kenya to the East, Tanzania to the South, South Sudan to her North and DR Congo. The last two neighbours are plagued by insecurity.

As is the practice, PMQT is closed with a couple of questions from the Leader Of the Opposition. Ms Winnie Kiiza was represented by the Opposition Whip Ssemujju Nganda who, in his usual style, didn’t forget to throw a barb at the Prime Minister, accusing him of betraying late UPC president and mentor Dr Milton Obote, by not in his estimation answering questions with oomph.

“The Azerbaijan President Aliyev has appointed his wife vice president. Can you tell the country that such a situation will not happen in Uganda,” Mr Ssemujju asked.
Mr Rugunda responded: “The laws of Uganda are clear. In the conduct of public affairs, the Constitution is supreme and it will guide whoever will be in charge. Let’s not speculate.”