By Frank Kamuntu
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, announced plans to allocate time for legislators to address corruption concerns in the legislature and other government arms. This announcement came during a heated parliamentary session on Tuesday, where Tayebwa emphasized that the debate would coincide with discussions on President Yoweri Museveni’s recent State of the Nation Address.
Security was tight around Parliament to prevent a planned protest dubbed “The March to Parliament,” driven by youth activists through social media campaigns. This movement, inspired by recent events in Kenya, aimed to combat corruption within Parliament.
Despite pressure and heckling from opposition members demanding immediate debate on the protestors’ arrests, Tayebwa assured that the corruption debate would proceed over two days. He urged legislators to adhere to parliamentary procedures rather than resorting to confrontational tactics.
“The Business Committee of Parliament is meeting tomorrow to prioritize the State of the Nation Address, covering all these issues. We will debate them for two days. Let’s not exchange words now,” Tayebwa remarked.
Joel Ssenyonyi, Leader of the Opposition in Parliament (LOP), criticized the government’s handling of the protests, arguing that Parliament should be the platform for such grievances. He highlighted the inconsistency in how different protests were treated, pointing out that a previous protest against MP Theodore Ssekikubo had been allowed, while the anti-corruption protestors were arrested.
Jonathan Odur, MP for Erute South, called on parliamentary leaders, including ministers, to emulate President Museveni’s engagement with citizens. Odur stressed the importance of providing space for anti-corruption voices, aligning with national objectives and principles.
“MPs must fight to be heard on this floor. We are entrusted by the people to address their concerns. Let’s take the initiative to explain and answer their questions,” Odur urged.
Public discontent with Parliament has grown following leaked documents alleging theft of taxpayers’ money. Speaker Anita Among was accused of extravagant spending and approving substantial service awards without parliamentary debate. Efforts to censure implicated commissioners, including former LOP Mathias Mpuuga, have stalled due to insufficient support.
Kampala Central MP Muhammad Nsereko supported the citizens’ right to protest, emphasizing the need for the government to address youth unemployment and poverty. “I support their right to ask questions at our homes if denied here,” he stated.
Aringa South MP Alion Odria emotionally demanded that parliamentary leaders address corruption accusations. “Ugandans are in panic with military deployments. Why avoid debating corruption here? We must clean our names or join the protestors,” he asserted.
In response, Tayebwa directed committee chairs to present relevant documents on the service awards to commissioners and former LOP next Tuesday, ensuring transparency and accountability in the ongoing corruption debate.
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