Packed agenda as legislators return from recess

What you need to know:

Among the issues to be debated are the electoral reforms which Cabinet has finished handling

Parliament.
Lawmakers return from a one-month recess next Tuesday to deal with a congested agenda that includes the controversy surrounding the Standard Gauge Railway, the Anti-Homosexuality Bill and the proposed constitutional reforms.

The Speaker of Parliament, Ms Rebecca Kadaga, had given the government one week to explain allegations of corruption in the $11.4 billion railways project.

Daily Monitor in August broke the story of how junior Works minister John Byabagambi on June 8, wrote terminating a Memorandum of Understanding between the government and China Civil Engineering and Construction Corporation for the upgrade of Uganda Railways’ eastern line. Court has since put on hold the minister’s actions.

The executive is also expected to table the proposed constitutional and electoral reforms reports ahead of 2016 elections.

Last phase
Deputy Attorney General Fred Ruhindi told Daily Monitor that Cabinet is through with the electoral reforms and is only waiting to discuss them with new Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda who is also Leader of Government Business.

“We finished handling the electoral reforms on our side and what delayed us is a few challenges since the former Prime Minister was the chairperson of the Cabinet sub-committee dealing with them,” Mr Ruhindi said.

“The new Prime Minister is aware and after we have briefed him, he will seek an appointment with the Speaker of Parliament to have the reforms included on the order paper. It is a new office and so many things have to be done,” he added.

After the Anti-homosexuality law was quashed by the Constitutional Court on grounds that there was no quorum when it was passed, legislators led by Kawempe South MP Latif Ssebaggala vowed to fast-track a re-tabling of the Bill before Parliament.

“...There is a small Cabinet committee chaired by the Vice President. We have been meeting, including the mover of the Bill and he will be able to move it on the floor of the House,” Mr Ruhindi said when asked about the gays law.