Speaker Kadaga to expose absentee ministers as parliament goes into recess
A handful of ministers on the front bench in Parliament this week. For a Cabinet of more than 80 ministers, Speaker Rebecca Kadaga was lost for words, wondering why ministers never bother to attend Parliament. Photo by Dominic Bukenya
What you need to know:
- Government Chief Whip Ruth Nankabirwa promised to convene a meeting with the speaker to chart a way forward on the matter.
- Ms Kadaga ruled that she will on Tuesday next week expose the Ministers who have been dodging House business.
PARLIAMENT: With Parliament forced to go on recess after the government failed to generate business, Speaker Rebecca Kadaga has vowed to name and shame ministers who have been dodging House business since the 10th Parliament opened.
Ms Kadaga told the House on Tuesday evening that plenary will be suspended for this week because the government has failed to table business, forcing Parliament to wait for Bills that are currently before different committees.
Rule 103 (1) of the Parliament Rules of Procedure requires that for any ministry, the minister or state minister has to attend House sittings and where none of them is able to attend, a minister shall request another minister to represent that ministry’s interests in the House and notify the speaker accordingly. House rules also bar members from missing 15 or more sittings, except with the permission of the speaker.
Ministers are also expected to table statements, bills and motions to guide House business but this has been lacking since the 10th Parliament opened in June.
“This afternoon, we have not seen government business. We are just [handling] members’ motions. That is all we are doing. That is why I have to close Parliament because government has failed to bring business. Where is the cabinet? Such a big one. We had a big struggle here to approve the increment of ministers,” Ms Kadaga said.
Government Chief Whip Ruth Nankabirwa promised to convene a meeting with the speaker to chart a way forward on the matter.
“This is shaming .And it’s not the first time. At the beginning of a session, there are at least some numbers on the frontbench. But towards the end, the number reduces tremendously, As Government Chief Whip, I do not like this. I urge my colleagues to always give three afternoons to Parliament, “Ms Nankabirwa said.
Ms Kadaga ruled that she will on Tuesday next week expose the Ministers who have been dodging House business.
