MPs question authenticity of age limit bill support documents

PARLIAMENT- Igara West MP Raphael Magyezi on was on Tuesday caught between a rock and a hard place, defending his Bill on the Constitution Amendment as several MPs doubted the authenticity of supporting documents before the Bill could be processed.

Although the MPs had earlier seen to change of timelines on committee schedules to discuss procedural matters, lawmakers including Kira Municipality MP, Mr Ssemujju and Bugweri County MP Abdul Katuntu raised concerns about other legalities.

Among the concern was the manner in which the Bill was gazetted.

According to documents presented to the Committee chaired by West Budama North MP, Mr Jacob Oboth, Mr Magyezi gazetted the Bill on 28 September 2017, the same date he secured leave from Parliament.

On the same day, Mr Magyezi secured a Certificate of Financial Implication from the Ministry of Finance.

The timeframe used is of concern after members further raised concerns that the leave was issued at 5:00pm on the due date, with Mr Ssemujju fearing that documents could have been forged.

The Commitee resolved to question the Minister of Finance Matia Kasaija over the Certificate of Financial Implication that was issued to Mr Magyezi.

 Also to be questioned is Ms Jane Kibirige,  the Clerk to Parliament on how the Bill was gazetted.

This has come after law makers from Mr Ssemujju and Bugweri County MP, Mr Abdul Katuntu voiced  suspicion that the documents dated 28 September could be forgeries.

"We need to be sure that the Bill before us has followed proper legal provisions, lest we shall be only wasting time,” Mr Ssemujju said.

According to procedure, a bill is supposed to be published in the National Gazette by the Clerk to Parliament before it is presented to Parliament for First reading.

The Bill must also have a Certificate of Financial Implication issued by the Ministry of Finance, as assurance that it will have no bearing impact on the consolidated fund.

However, the documents presented as evidence to the committee are all dated September 28,2017.

MPs fear since Mr Magyezi forged a committee report during the 9th Parliament, the Certificate of Financial Implication and the Gazetted Bill could be forged.

"We are not harassing Mr Magyezi but we are guided by history, " Mr Sseggona (Busiro South) said.

Mr Magyezi asked the Committee to seek clarification from issuing agencies rather than grilling him.

"The gazette is a concern of the Clerk while the Certificate of Financial implication is for Ministry of Finance, not myself," he said. 

As a procedural matter, Mr Oboth has tasked the Committee Clerk to invite Mr Kasaija and Ms Kibirige to appear before the Committee.

Earlier drama

Drama ensued during the proceedings of the Parliamentary committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs as Kiira Municipality MP, Mr Ssemujju was involved in a bitter exchange with Kyaka South MP Jackson Kafuuzi.

The exchange occurred during the first committee meeting to process the amendment Bill on presidential age limit.

The exchange came as Mr Ssemujju attempted to raise a procedural matter on who should come to the committee as a witness along with Igara West MP Raphael Magyezi, the initiator of the Bill.

"I don't care whom Magyezi comes with, whether it's his wife or child, I do not care, " Mr Ssemujju said.

Mr Ssemujju's submission did not go well with Mr Kafuuzi who fired back.

"Mr Chair, can Ssemujju withdrawal his statement. I am not Magyezi's wife," Mr Rwakafuuzi said. "I am neither his child, I am a member of this committee and I deserve to be respected, is this how Ssemujju is going to treat witnesses?”

Mr Kafuuzi was appearing alongside Mr Magyezi to defend the Bill, which seeks to amend Article 102(b) to lift the presidential age limit.

Mr Ssemujju also raised concern over the chairman's impartiality, saying he has attended several secret meetings with President Museveni, “the sole beneficiary” of the Bill.

Mr Ssemujju said Mr Oboth, an independent MP has also attended caucus meetings of the ruling party to lay strategy of having the bill passed.

However,  Mr Oboth dismissed allegations as baseless and asked the committee to stay calm, swearing that he is impartial and incorruptible.

"I have not been at State House and that allegation is against my reputation," Mr Oboth said.

Mr Oboth said he would raise the matter with the Speaker of Parliament for Mr Ssemujju to adduce evidence on his allegations.

"I am not a corrupt man and I will never be. My history speaks, I am sure the allegations are meant to derail the Chair, "he said.

Mr Oboth said that what will inform the final report on the Bill is substantive argument presented and not political sentiments.

The MPs also raised security concerns claiming that the Conference Hall where the committee had convened was used by the Special Forces Command to allegedly torture members during the September raid on the House. 

The meeting was was shifted to the South Committee Room.

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