By Sarah Achen Kibisi
The Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Anita Among has said she will not accept to be held liable for the wrongs committed when she was not in parliament.
“The decision was not by me; I should not be held liable for wrongs that happened when I was not there. This matter can be addressed here in parliament, if it’s something we can’t address then the select committee will handle and present a report on the floor but this can be done when you are inside the house not outside,” said Among. She warned opposition to stop boycotting.
Busia Municipality MP, Geoffrey Macho who was the first to react to the speaker’s communication said the opposition should desist from using individuals instead of the voters who elected them to parliament.
“As a person, people have stopped listening to those who voted them and to individuals. We should let do them activism cabinet work in African setting and yet we put democracy in place,” said Macho.
Bukimbira County MP, Hon. Eddie Kwizera said that the house has been in the media. Appeal to the opposition under Article 190 which gives powers to put a select committee from both NRM and opposition side to resolve the issue to keep out of media.
The speaker while chairing plenary on this month made the remarks during plenary after Soroti West MP, Hon. Simon Peter Ebwalu requested her to use her powers to enable government brings a statement as highlighted by the opposition in parliament.
“You have been known for holding the executive accountable. We can’t compel the opposition to return to the house. They left the house because they had issues and I know you can use your powers to ask government bring a statement in the matters raised by the opposition,” said Ebwalu.
The State Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Peter Ogwang has castigated opposition for turning parliament into a theatre of some sort.
Ogwang and other legislators said they were disappointed with Leader of Opposition, Hon. Mathias Mpuuga because he commands a lot of respect from the country and being a diplomatic person, he should not succumb to pressure.
It should be recalled that Opposition MPs went on boycott plenary sittings in protest of Government failure to address the continuous violations of human rights and to produce the missing Ugandans who were allegedly kidnapped by security agents.
Government Chief Whip, Hon. Dennis Hamson Obua said that government has held a number of meetings chaired by the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Thomas Tayebwa, different government agencies have investigated the lists of the missing persons. “After engaging in a number of meetings, we respected the decrees even after they us the 30 days.
“We want to join you to use all mechanisms to compel them to return to the house, they left this house on their own, how long will this activism end. Enough is enough,” said Obua.
Obua added that government has nothing more to offer to opposition because government has exhausted all the measures to address the concerns.
Ends
