Parliament of Uganda

Oct72020 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments

Uganda’s Speaker commends South Korea’s support towards the Covid-19 fight

AFRICA, EAST AFRICA, INTERNATIONAL, UGANDA

Uganda's Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga has applauded the Government of South Korea for extending support to Ugandan government for the fight against Covid-19. Kadaga was thrilled on hearing from the South Korean Ambassador to Uganda, Ha Byung-Kyoo that US $4m has been allocated to boost health facilities handling Covid-19 cases. Ambassador of South Korea to Uganda H.E Ha Byung-kyoo signing a visitor’s book during a courtesy call to Speaker Rebecca Kadaga at Parliament, 7th 10 2020.Parliament Photo “This is very important support you are giving us, because besides the gaps in the health facilities, many people do not yet believe that Corona Virus is real, we need a lot of health education in that area” said Kadaga Kadaga made these remarks during a meeting with Byung-Kyoo ...

Oct52020 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments

Youth urged to take lead roles in climate change initiatives

AFRICA, INTERNATIONAL, POLITICS

Speaker Rebecca Kadaga has called on youth in Uganda to create legacies in climate change by planting trees when they make any achievements in a bid to improve the country's forest cover. The Speaker said that there is need to promote stakeholder involvement in the creation of polices to mitigate climate change.“We talk about environmental degradation and tree planting but nothing serious is done about it. I want the young people to agitate for programmes that support our environment,” Kadaga said. Kadaga made the remarks at the National Conference on youth participation and contribution to the Climate Change Bill 2020, on Friday 02 October 2020.The Speaker said that Parliament had promoted tree planting drives in different districts including Moroto in a bid create awareness on rej...

Sep162020 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments

Human head intercepted at Parliament was ferried from Masaka -Police

AFRICA, EAST AFRICA

Criminal Investigations into circumstances surrounding a man who was yesterday intercepted with human head at parliament have confirmed that the victim is a child from Masaka. CID Police spokesperson, CP Charles Atwine said DNA tests ran today confirmed that the headless trunk which was recently discovered in Kijjabwemi, Masaka, matched tests conducted on the head and therefore confirming the origin of the head. The parents of the slain child, Charles Senyonga and his wife also confirmed that Joseph Niwashaba, the man who was found in possession of the human head, was living with them before he disappeared with the child only to find it slain with the head missing. The head was also confirmed by the family as belonging to their slain child and it has already been given to the fam...

Sep52020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

Parliament of Uganda records COVID-19 positive cases

INTERNATIONAL

Kampala, Uganda --- Following random testing for COVID-19 in parliament last week, it has been established that five members of staff have tested positive for the virus. The affected staff have been informed of their status and referred to the ministry of health. They are now undergoing treatment in the reccomended health facilities. As a result, the precincts of the parliament have been disinfected today. The numbers of staff will be further scaled down with immediate effect. The other staff who were in contact with the affected have been identified and advised to stay at home in self-quarantine, if they develop any signs and symptoms, they have been advised to contact the parliament doctor immediately who will then liaise with the ministry of health to have them tested. The ...

Aug302020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

Bobi Wine distances himself from change of birth details on the Parliament website

AFRICA

Kampala, Uganda --- The Kyadondo East MP, the leader of NUP and a Presidential aspirant in the 2021 general elections, Hon. Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu has dismissed claims that he allowed the Parliament to change his death of birth details on the Parliament website. It is noted that on Friday, the Parliament website updated the date of birth of the NUP president from 2/December/1982 to 2/December/1980. Bobi Wine later via his social media handles noted that he wasn't aware of that and that he was also surprised to see it. He said that he talked with the Parliament IT department about it but said that they also claimed not to know about it. "This morning, my attention was drawn to an alteration in my information on the website of Parliament. My year of birth was altered from 19...

Aug292020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

Bobi Wine cleared by UNEB over birth details

AFRICA

It all looks like the controversial public interest city lawyer, Male Mabirizi has once again lost another case, this time around, it’s not the age limit case but it’s a case he filed against the 2021 Uganda Presidential candidate, Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine. On 10th August, Mr Mabirizi applied to the Electoral Commission requesting certified copies of academic papers Bobi Wine provided during his nomination for the bye-election for Kyadondo East Constituency in 2017 to verify whether the National Unity Platform(NUP) leader indeed possesses the said credentials. This was mainly due to Bobi Wine’s peculiar completion of A’level at age 16, O-level at 13 and Primary Leaving Examination at 9 as was reflected on the parliamentary website. The academic papers ...

Aug282020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

Speaker Kadaga implores finance ministry on AIDS Trust Fund

AFRICA

The AIDS Trust Fund provided for by the HIV and AIDS Prevention and Control Act signed into law in 2014 should draw its funding from the Consolidated Fund. However, it was noted by Dr Eddie Mukooyo, the Chairperson of the Uganda AIDS Commission that to this day, it has not yet been implemented. The revelation irked the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, who expressed her disappointment in the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. Kadaga faulted the ministry for failing to release funds to enact the AIDS Trust Fund (ATF) since the law took effect. “We passed into law a legislation supporting the Trust Fund because we believe the matter was urgent and would support the Presidential Initiative against HIV/AIDS, it is a pity that we are still talking about th...

Aug272020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

Kanungu cult massacre orphans petition Parliament

AFRICA

A group of orphans whose parents perished 20 years ago in March 2000 in a cult massacre have petitioned the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga over being denied access to their parents’ burial site and an investigation report into the incident. Chairing the Wednesday, 26 August 2020 plenary sitting, Kadaga said that Parliament in July 2019 resolved to have government provide financial assistance to the affected persons and for the Prime Minister to present a report on the investigation. “I wrote to the government on 2 September 2019 and on 17 February 2020 on the same issue requesting the Prime Minister to meet the group and discuss their compensation,” she added. Kadaga said that the group claims they met President Yoweri Museveni who gave them assurance of compensation on 6 ...

Aug272020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

Minister Sarah Kanyike takes oath of MP

AFRICA

Following the taking of oath as Minister of State for Gender, Labour and Social Development (Elderly and Disability) and as an Ex-Officio Member of Parliament respectively, legislators have stressed to hon. Sarah Kanyike the importance of serving the country diligently and objectively. Bugiri Municipality MP (JEEMA), Asuman Basalirwa while speaking on behalf of the Opposition said that they have confidence in her ability to execute her new political assignment professionally and look forward to working with her. “We worked cordially with her at her previous assignment as Deputy Mayor and we want her to remember to serve the interests of her country first, others notwithstanding,” he said. Basalirwa told Kanyike that putting her country at heart while in service as a Minister will...

Aug272020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

“Poor financing of the Transport Ministry slows down work” ,Katumba Wamala

AFRICA

The Minister of Works and Transport, Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, has said that his Ministry has no money to fund its ongoing road works. Speaking in response to the concerns raised by Members of Parliament over collapsed bridges in certain parts of the country during the Tuesday, 25 August 2020 sitting, Gen. Katumba Wamala said that the finance ministry had only given them money for salaries. "My Ministry unfortunately only receives money for salary. When I talked to the Ministry of Finance they said they do not have enough money because of poor collections so we have had to scale down works," he added. Hon. Godfrey Katusabe (FDC, Bukonjo County West) said that bridges in Bukonjo have affected transportation in the area since the people staying in the low lands cannot acces...

Aug132020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

Speaker Kadaga inaugurates Soroti City, lauds leaders

AFRICA

The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga has praised the leaders of Teso and particularly Soroti for being united in championing for the needs of the people. Making reference to what she called a “frivolous threat” by some leaders to stop Soroti from being granted city status, Kadaga said she saw both the NRM legislators and opposition MPs speaking in unison to have the district get city recognition.“There was a hitch when someone tried to stop commencement of this city but I saw the NRM and FDC MPs together united in purpose for the city to take off. I thank Teso MPs for such unity exhibited,” she told members of the District Council and NRM delegates gathered at the City Hall. Kadaga said since there was no court injunction, Parliament went ahead and granted Soroti, city status. ...

Aug82020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

Parliament defers approval of loan requests

AFRICA

Parliament, Kampala, Uganda ------ Parliament has deferred the passing of two loan requests by government citing inadequacies in supporting information and absence of sector ministers. The legislators deferred the passing of a request by government to borrow US$169.2 million from the International Development Association of World Bank Group for financing of the Irrigation for the Climate Resilience Project. The specific object of the loan is to develop project areas with access to irrigation and other agricultural services and to establish management arrangements for irrigation service delivery. While presenting the report on behalf of the Committee of National Economy, Elgon County MP, Hon Wamakuyu Mudimi said that the loans specifically under the Ministry of Water have a ...

Aug52020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

Mugisha Muntu Visits Kadaga ahead of 2021 General elections

AFRICA

Parliament, Kampala, Uganda --- The Alliance of National Transformation President, Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu and his team visited the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga on Tuesday. Muntu, accompanied by the party Convener, Alice Alaso and Jinja East Member of Parliament Paul Mwiru, who recently joined the party after quitting the Forum for Democratic Change, want ANT to be officially put on the records of Parliament. Kadaga, in a statement, said ANT also wants to join the membership of the Inter-party Organization for Dialogue (IPOD). “Leaders of the Alliance for National Transformation party (ANT) have paid a courtesy call on me at Parliament. Key issues of concern include membership to the Interparty Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD),” said Kadaga. IPOD membership consists o...

Aug52020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

MPs approve 5 Parliament seats for elderly

AFRICA

Parliament, Kampala, Uganda --- MPs have created five Parliamentary seats for elderly persons, one of which has been ring-fenced for women. Every region including Central, Eastern, Northern and Western will each have a representative elected by the Elders’ Council constituting all the districts in a particular region, while the National Female MP for the elderly will be elected by the National Elders’ Council constituting delegates from all the regions. The Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Hon Ephraim Kamuntu, tabled the Parliamentary Elections (Amendment) Bill 2020, which proposed the legal regime for the creation of the seats that have been endorsed by Parliament. The introduction of the Bill was by way of motion without notice, which necessitated the suspension...

Jul162020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

UG Parliament: Government tables Bill to reform 1993 UNEB Act

AFRICA

Parliament, Kampala, Uganda --- A bill aimed at reforming the Uganda National Examinations Board to enable it regulate and oversee the national examinations has been presented before Parliament. The Uganda National Examinations Board Bill, 2020 was tabled by the State Minister for Primary Education, Hon. Rosemary Sseninde on Tuesday,14 July 2020 at a sitting chaired by the Speaker, Rebecca Kadaga. The Bill seeks to define the powers and functions of the Uganda National Examinations Board with regard to preparation, organisation and administration of national examinations; improve standards and quality of national examinations conducted by the Examinations Board and address new and emerging challenges affecting the administration and management of national examinations. The Bill a...

Jul162020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

Parliament of Uganda to screen MPs and Staff for Covid-19

AFRICA

Parliament, Kampala, Uganda --- The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga has revealed that Parliament will begin mass screening for coronavirus for Members of Parliament and staff on Thursday, 16 July 2020.“Some time back Members of Parliament requested that the Ministry of Health organises mass screening for COVID-19. I am glad to inform you that they have now completed screening the Cabinet and starting tomorrow, we shall be able to do screening here,” Kadaga said. Kadaga said screening will be carried out at Parliament’s medical centre starting with the 459 Members of Parliament and later on staff.She directed the Clerk to Parliament to ensure that the screening exercise does not generate congestion at the medical centre whose capacity cannot accommodate big numbers. “We shal...

Jul12020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

UGANDA: Government to launch 7 new cities today.

AFRICA, UGANDA

The national launch is set to be held in Jinja presided over by the speaker of parliament Rebecca Kadaga. Speaking ahead of the operationalization of the cities, the minister for local government Raphael Magyezi said they are expected to be self-sustaining entities and raise their own revenue Magyezi adds that in the meantime no one will be allowed to sell, lease or exchange fixed public assets like land or motor vehicles until further notice. The new cities being operationalized are Arua ,Fortportal, Gulu, Jinja , Mbarara, Mbale and Masaka. The others are Hoima in 2021, Entebbe and Lira Cities which take effect 1st July, 2022. While Moroto, Nakasongola, Soroti, Kabale and Wakiso cities take effect on July 1st 2023.

Jun272020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

UGANDA: Parliament delegates 1 trillion UGX supplementary budget four days prior the end of financial year.

AFRICA, UGANDA

Parliament yesterday passed a Shs 1.087 trillion supplementary budget, four days to the end of the financial year 2019/2020. The minister of state for Economic Planning, David Bahati said from this amount, Shs 920 billion will be for recurrent expenditure and Shs166 billion for development expenditure. Bahati said Shs 455 billion will be used to capitalize the Uganda Development Bank so as to support the private sector that has been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ministry of Health was given Shs 89 billion to help in procuring face masks for the nationals, procurement of the testing kits and laboratory consumables. In this same supplementary budget, the Office of the Prime Minister received Shs 45 billion, Ministry of Trade was given Shs 100 billion, Microfin...

Jun262020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

UGANDA: Buganda Kingdom petitions Parliament.

UGANDA

KAMPALA – Buganda Kingdom through it’s former Attorney General Apollo Makubya has petitioned Parliament seeking to decolonize and rename streets in Kampala and other geographical features, saying the continued use of colonial names glorifies the slavery and brutality Ugandans endured at the hands of the British rule. Makubuya, who is the Special Advisor to Kabaka of Buganda on Palace Matters led the team including Justice James Ogoola (Chair Elders Forum), Medard Segona (MP Busiro East), Lwanga Lunyigo (Professor of History), Stephen Mukitale (Buliisa County MP) to present their motion to Speaker of Parliament on Friday. The Buganda Kingdom official who is already championing an online petition told Speaker Kadaga that the continued public display of colonial iconography, glorifies ...

Jun262020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

UGANDA: Club, Bar owners seek Parliament support on reopening

AFRICA, COVID-19, UGANDA

KAMPALA – Players in the entertainment and service industry have petitioned the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, to intervene in their timeless closure by government in her bid to curtail the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. Under their Club, Restaurants and Entertainment Owners Association of Uganda, they admit that they can no longer service their obligations such as loans and rent. While presenting their concerns to Kadaga on 25 June 2020 at Parliament, the chairperson of the association, Tesfalem Gherautu, said that the continued closure of clubs and entertainment places has also led to loss of jobs, thereby rendering the youth idle as they account for the bulk of their employees. “Our sector is a linked sector and its closure affects the agriculturalists who supply to ...