Summary:
- The speakers warning came after she halted a procedural request by Theodore Ssekikubo (Lwemiyaga County), who sought to know why his motion to censure four Parliamentary Commissioners over a Shs1.7Bn Service Award was not included on the order paper.
GULU: Speaker Anitah Among has warned Members of Parliament against bringing the “Nonsense” from Kampala to the Northern Regional sitting in Gulu City.
The speakers warning came after she halted a procedural request by Theodore Ssekikubo (Lwemiyaga County), who sought to know why his motion to censure four Parliamentary Commissioners over a Shs1.7Bn Service Award was not included on the order paper.
“This session is devoted to the people of Northern Uganda to discuss issues concerning the Greater North. Let us respect the people of this region. Issues unrelated to this area should not be discussed here. You have your Kampala House where you can handle all your ‘Manyanga’ (nonsense),” Among stated.
Ssekikubo remarked, “I am glad to be in Gulu. While I was collecting signatures with my colleagues, we set up a camp here. The people of Gulu have returned to show that I did not end in shame; the signatures were obtained.”
Speaker Among led Parliament in thanking President Museveni for supporting the Parliamentary Regional Sittings and expressed gratitude to the residents of Gulu for their warm hospitality.
“This is the first time in post-colonial history that the Parliament of Uganda is sitting outside Kampala. In a special way, please join me in thanking the people of Gulu City for the extraordinary hospitality. I would also like to thank the President, who endorsed our sitting in Gulu and supported us to be here. We are forever grateful to him,” Among noted.
She also commended MPs for traveling from various parts of the country to attend the plenary sitting in Gulu, adding, “Your presence here shows you are leaders who love Uganda.”
Among explained that the decision to hold parliamentary sittings in Uganda’s four traditional regions is a strategy to bridge the gap between Parliament and the people, emphasizing that regional issues differ and need specific attention.
“Contrary to some misinformation, the Regional Sittings of Parliament are budget-neutral; we are not incurring additional costs. The decision was to upgrade already budgeted Parliamentary outreaches into full-fledged sittings that will deliberate on regional matters,” Among clarified.
She noted that unlike outreaches, the deliberations from these sittings would result in Parliamentary resolutions requiring government action. “Parliament is not a stationary building. The building in Kampala is not Parliament; it is an arm of government that can convene anywhere in the country, as prescribed under Article 95(2) of the Constitution,” she added.
The Speaker criticized those opposed to the regional sittings as selfish and accused them of not caring for the Northern Region. She emphasized that the Constitution allows her to proclaim Parliament’s sittings anywhere in Uganda. “Where Parliament is, is where the Speaker is. We could even proclaim the middle of Kampala Road as Parliament,” she asserted.
Among concluded, “A people-centered Parliament must be responsive to the needs of the citizens. The 11th Parliament, since its inception in 2021, has vowed to put the people at the center of the legislative process, which is why we are bringing Parliament to them.”
Meanwhile, Hamson Obua, Government Chief Whip, claimed that MPs boycotting the Gulu sitting were violating the Constitution and Parliament’s rules. He said, “Our sitting in Gulu is legally supported by Article 95(2) of the Constitution. Any MP who refuses to attend should be deemed unconstitutional and against the spirit of the Rules of Procedure.”
Obua praised the economic benefits of the regional sittings, noting, “This is a big boost to the Gulu and Northern Uganda economies. Our presence here supports local businesses, from hotels to restaurants and fuel stations.”
John Baptist Lokii (Matheniko County) welcomed the Speaker back from her recent trip to the Vatican, where she received papal blessings for the 11th Parliament. He also called on the government to establish more boarding schools in Karamoja to keep young learners in school.
