NRM MPs block proposal to table Presidential Transition Bill

KAMPALA: Members of the ruling party on Thursday blocked a request by a member to table a private member’s bill on presidential transition.
The bill, according to the motion moved by Buikwe legislator, Lulume Bayiga seeks to among other things, make provisions for the procedure and ceremony for the assumption of the office of the President.
A copy of the bill proposes that it could be achieved by establishment of the presidential transition committee and providing for the procedure for the assumption of the office of the president by the president elect, and his or her access to all state power instruments, national assets and state secrets.
However NRM legislators denied the legislator the chance to present the bill, with the deputy Attorney General, Fred Ruhindi and the minister for Lands, Daudi Migereko, saying the issue is under discussion within the membership of Ipod (Inter party organisation for dialogue) while some MPs just shouted no!
“We had a meeting in Zanzibar of ipod which I attended on behalf of our party. The issue of the president transition bill came up and we said lets discuss about this more. Since that dialogue is going on why do we pre-empt it?” Mr Ruhindi said.
Some NRM MPs who attempted to tow a middle line in the debate reasoned that the party should not use numbers to muzzle good initiatives without getting details of what they intend to bring forward.
“We have got the numbers but we are in a growing democracy,” Ms Ann-Maria Nankabirwa, (NRM Kyankwanzi) said. “Let’s accept and listen to one another. We should never try to involve ourselves in pre-empting. For the future of this country, listening and being patient to one another is very important.”
MP Alex Ruhunda (NRM Fort Portal) said, “It would be very unfortunate to begin rejecting something before we have gone into the detail. Let us listen and see what happens. It is upon us to make the final decision after seeing the details of the bill.”
The speaker’s attempt to convince the House to grant Mr Lulume audience was ignored as MPs challenged her to stick to the rules of the House.
“What we are considering is a request to grant permission and that can be done by the majority. If the majority have said no, then be it,” Mr Raphael Magyezi said.
The Speaker had attempted to cajole the House into emotionally allowing in the bill.
“This is just part of a process. The actual bill can be defeated here. If we reject it and say do not even try, we will be acting undemocratically. Let us allow them to go and bring the bill and debate it here,” Kadaga said before Magyezi shot up.
After one-hour of ping-pong, Mr Lulume moved to ask the speaker to defer the debate so that he gets more time to lobby the House.
“People have been influenced by the fear of the unknown. I should have lobbied and explained my colleagues. It’s on that note that I ask for more time to lobby my friends so that they understand why I am moving this,” he prayed, and the speaker granted it.
What others said
Wafula Oguttu (Leader of Opposition)
It is terrible and unconstitutional to legislate using the majority to stop someone from moving a motion and bringing a private members bill just because you have the numbers.
Theodore Ssekikubo (Lwemiyaga)
Whereas there was discussion between party leaders about this outside this House, Parliament is now considering it. It is the duty of parliament to debate and this is not to serve parties but to serve the people of Uganda.
Medard Ssegona (DP, Busiro East)
I bleed when I see members telling the country that either we do not want to receive work or work from that side and you reject it even before looking at the content. Let us send a message to the country that we are the top cream of politics in this country.

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