PM blames electoral reforms delay on ministers absence
Speaker Rebecca Kadaga
What you need to know:
Mr Rugunda says he cannot table reforms without the line ministers.
PARLIAMENT- Government, for the umpteenth time yesterday, failed to place a clear timeline on when electoral reforms to guarantee a free poll in February next year will be tabled.
Fears that the regime is dragging its feet over tabling the critical reforms re-emerged in the House during Prime Minister’s Question time.
Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda told Parliament the sought after changes to existing electoral laws cannot be tabled due to the absence of Justice Minister Kahinda Otafiire and Attorney General Peter Nyombi.
Dr Rugunda said the two are in London defending the government in an ongoing oil case. The Premier was responding to an enquiry by Dokolo Woman MP and Opposition Chief Whip Cecilia Ogwal on a clear schedule on when the reforms will be tabled.
“I want to ask the PM as to when he intends to bring to Parliament relevant pieces of law that will guide this country to the 2016 elections?” Ms Ogwal asked.
“Actually, government is in the final stages because Cabinet is due to discuss. Cabinet is yet to meet and discuss the amendments and they will be before you soon,” Mr Rugunda responded.
Pressed further by Speaker Rebecca Kadaga to come out with a clear timeline on when the reforms will be tabled and passed before legislators are consumed by the electioneering process, Dr Rugunda refused to budge, insisting that no business on reforms can be done without the line ministers.
“We are going into an election year. When we were opening this Third meeting [of Parliament], I said that I am worried that by June, there would be nobody seated here to do serious work. So time is of the essence, we need to know when you are tabling the [Bill for] First reading,”Ms Kadaga said.
“What I have told the House is as factual as it can be,” Dr Rugunda countered. “The AG is leading a government team with the oil cases in London. Since the AG has been the one leading this sector, it is only prudent that his input is sought. This should not be a suggestion in any way that the government cannot run without any minister.”
The delay by the government to table the official reforms has stalled the Electoral Commission’s published road map to 2016, with the electoral body spokesman Jotham Taremwa indicating in an interview yesterday that re-calibrating the election activities to fall into line with the new laws will come at a “great cost” to the commission.
Key among the reforms that the governments seems hesitant to embrace is a demand for the Electoral Commission to be disbanded, a new national voters’ register compiled and the role of security agencies in the electoral process revised.
