Kadaga admits weaknesses in Parliament performance

Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga has acknowledged existence of gaps in the performance of Parliament.
This was during the annual Legislature Sector Review for the year ended 2018/19 in Kampala yesterday.
The Speaker said many a time, Parliament has not acted on its recommendations, especially those that involve timelines.

“Sometimes I am in the chair and there are decisions we make, which I think someone should remind me to write or even draft. I think I need someone who sits on my side to capture follow ups. I think other units have but the Speaker of Parliament does not. I want to see that area beefed up,” Ms Kadaga said.

She added: “There are instances a matter has been completed and then you find them back on the order paper.” The Speaker blamed this on “some laxity on eliminating what has been completed”.
Ms Kadaga also said over time she has pushed for an application where the public can address the House on Bills so as to boost citizen engagement.

She also acknowledged the failure of Parliament to review the annual reports from government agencies.
“There is total absence on the review of the annual reports; agencies come with annual reports, almost all; but I have not seen a single annual report in the House and the most disappointing one is the report of the IGG [Inspector General of Government,” Ms Kadaga said.

Debating reports
“Each time we have a meeting with the IGG, she asks, ‘when are you debating our reports?’” she said, stressing that this is an area that should be carefully handled.
On the public demand for open vetting of nominees, the Speaker said: “It is something I really want but each time we bring it for debate, the proposal is defeated. I would be very happy to have an open vetting because nobody will say ‘Kadaga does not like me’.” Ms Kadaga also expressed the ever increasing pressure from the electorate, especially in regards to social benefits.

“The public has a lot of expectations from the MPs, which are unrealistic. The MP is not the bank, the MP is not a funeral director, the MP does not build roads; I think we need to find a way of making them fully understand the roles of a Member of Parliament,” the Speaker said.
Ms Kadaga tasked the Clerk to Parliament, Ms Jane Kibirige, to compile the rulings of the presiding officer at the end of every session to ensure adequate follow ups by the legislators.

Weaknesses
The sector review report shows the House failed to review annual reports of the IGG and other agencies. It failed to set sanctions against entities that do not adhere to its resolutions. Parliament did not cause a review of Treasury memoranda to ensure adherence to its recommendations. It also did not develop a tool to assess the level of satisfaction on responses provided during the Prime Minister’s Question Time. It did not operationalise the gender desk and a planning week, among others.

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