MPs, do right things to avoid fear

What you need to know:

  • I am appalled by the lack of patriotism in the August House. The zenith has now reached for the population to be sensitised on how to recall these selfish legislators, who act contrary to the wishes of their voters. We are ashamed to be represented by the current crop of unpatriotic MPs.

The Parliament Watch points out that the formal legislation in Uganda can be traced as far as the turn of the century, when in 1888, the then Imperial British East African Company run Uganda like a company. It is further argued that the first traces of legislation were manifested in the various pieces of regulations passed by the said company.

The period between 1902 and 1920 was stellar as Uganda received the structures of governance and administration under the instruments of Orders-in-Council, which have been described either as the first or the second constitutions of Uganda.

However, Prof George Kanyeihamba in one of his works, contends that this period was dictatorial and despotic, if not in practice or at least in law. It is this background of Orders-in-Council that gives us the foundation on which the current Parliament was premised as it has a bearing on its functions today.

The 1995 Constitution under objective XI(i) and Article 79 fortifies the legislative roles of the August House, which must meet the spirit our preamble in tandem with any law, the demands of the current and future generations. However, this spirit remains superficial and mouth-watering to be reflected to whenever a public outcry arises. Some avaricious mortals have developed a myopic slogan of “call your paper constitution to redeem you” in response to the public concerns.

This proclivity of disrespecting the spirit of constitutionalism continued to manifest when the President met the current crop of infamous MPs, who singled out intimidation and threats to their lives.
The President believed their defective claims. Did the President envisage the financial implications in the long-run coupled with the rampant balkanisation of the country in the name of extending services to the people? This balkanisation has negative effects on the national budget.

A Parliament official described this wasteful expenditure as ‘a short-term measure’ to meet the credible threats. What a shortsighted statement. Threats are merely preparatory symptoms of insecurity concerns, which would have required the State to ascertain the root causes and find solutions to them.

I am appalled by the lack of patriotism in the August House. The zenith has now reached for the population to be sensitised on how to recall these selfish legislators, who act contrary to the wishes of their voters. We are ashamed to be represented by the current crop of unpatriotic MPs.
My view is that it is only the correct ideas they hold and the right decisions MPs take that will protect them.

Gordan Kijjambu Mukisa,
[email protected]