Legislators during the plenary session at Parliament on July 19, 2022. PHOTOs/DAVID LUBOWA.
On Thursday evening, Parliament closed the two-week long deliberations on the “review of rules of procedure of Parliament” that were reworked by the Standing Committee on Rules, Privileges and Discipline chaired by the Bugweri County MP, Mr Abdu Katuntu.
In so doing, Parliament streamlined how MPs carry themselves and conduct business during committee and plenary sittings. Major changes included restrictions on how legislators dress. Mr Katuntu told Parliament that the changes were effected because it was the time was ripe “to look in our rules to give an impression of what a Member of Parliament should be” because “we cannot have a house, and it is like a market.”
The House resolved that all MPs shall be restricted to a “decent blouse with sleeves and decent skirt or decent trouser, or decent blouse with a jacket and decent skirt or decent trouser.”
Leader of Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi during the plenary session at Parlia- ment. Proper formal attire is required. PHOTO | DAVID LUBOWA
MPs are also banned from making defamatory statements against colleagues. MPs are allowed to withdraw their signature if previously submitted to support the push for censure motion. A proposal by Mr David Kabanda (Kasambya County), to define grounds for the censure of the Leader of the Opposition was rejected.
MPs, who dodge committee sittings without formal notification of the presiding officer, are banned from committee and remain without committee for three months. A proposal by the Butambala Woman MP, Ms Aisha Kabanda, to have the Human Rights Committee overseen by the Opposition side, was rejected.
CHANGES AT GLANCE
Dress code allowed
• Gomesi (women), • Kanzu complemented with Jacket and trousers (for men)
• Hijab for Muslim female legislators
• UPDF camouflage/combat military attire banned in the House. Only formal plain attire decorated with pips allowed for UPDF representatives in Parliament.
Minister of Gender Betty Amongi, MP Sarah Achieng Opendi and MP Jimmy Akena arrive at Kololo Independence Grounds on May 12, 2021. Gomesi is an acceptable outfit in the House. PHOTO | DAVID LUBOWA
• Only closed shoes allowed with exception given for special cases. Disorderly conduct banned under the new rule (Rule 88 inserted).
Under this new rule, MPs:
•Shouldn’t defy Speaker’s ruling.
• Shouldn’t leak House reports and or other related information.
•Shouldn’t demonstrate or make utterances.
•Should apologise once asked to do so.
•Shouldn’t cause disorder in the House.
•Shouldn’t destroy property in the House.
•Shouldn’t remove mace.
•Shouldn’t give false information to the House.
