Parliament resumes as ‘‘stupid’’ order controversy hovers
KAMPALA. Parliament has been thrown into dilemma as it resumes business before a court order, Speaker Rebecca Kadaga last week termed as “stupid”, is withdrawn.
Ms Kadaga last week dismissed Deputy Chief Justice Steven Kavuma’s order that had sought to stop the House or any individual from inquiring into a Shs6b controversial oil cash bonanza.
Ms Kadaga had announced an indefinite suspension of House sittings and also warned that no government business would be handled by Parliament in the face of the court order.
The Shs6b was controversially paid out to 42 government officials as a reward for having won a case against British oil firms in a London arbitration case over Capital Gains Tax in which Uganda was awarded $434m [about Shs1.5 trillion].
Resuming business
But in a communication sent out to the MPs by the Clerk to Parliament, Ms Jane Kibirige, the MPs were notified that Parliament resumes business tomorrow.
“As you may recall Parliament was adjourned sine die…Parliament will resume its plenary sittings on Wednesday, January 18, 2017 …all committee activities will resume on Tuesday (today),” a notice issued by the Ms Kibirige reads in part.
Mr Chris Obore, the director of communications and public affairs, said the resumption was informed by the need to serve the public.
“The longer the Parliament is not working, the more we affect the people we ought to serve,” he said.
Mr Obore also said the resumption was informed by the positive energy characterised by the withdrawal of the petition although it does not meet the Speaker’s directive.
Mr Eric Sabiiti through his lawyer, Alex Candia off Candia & DW Oundo Advocates last Thursday withdrew from the petition barring Parliament or any organ of government and the public from debating, investigating and questioning the Shs6b golden handshake. They reasoned that they had not anticipated the crumbling of government business following the Speaker’s directive.
Speaker’s discretion vs consistence
Mr Obore insisted that although there was no vacation of the court order as earlier demanded, the decision to recall Parliament rests on the Speaker’s discretion.
“Parliament is opening because the Speaker has said so…the authority of Parliament lies with the Speaker,” Mr Obore said.
But Mr Mohammad Muwanga Kivumbi [DP, Butambala County] said that irrespective of the Speaker’s discretion, Parliament ought to be consistent in its decisions.
“Decisions we take as Parliament are fundamental and must be accorded such regard lest the people we represent will take us for granted,” he said.
