Ministers Apologize for Tardiness, Speaker Seeks Solutions to Absenteeism in Parliament

KAMPALA – The Third Deputy Prime Minister, Rukia Nakadama has apologized for the tardiness of the Ministers to Parliamentary sittings, attributing it to their heavy workload.

Nakadama stated, “Ministers have been arriving just moments after the plenary session begins. I personally arrived two minutes after the House had commenced, and the Speaker adjourned the session. I believe they will make efforts to be more punctual. We will continue to remind them about the issue of tardiness. Late arrival is not intentional.”

She also promised improvements in their time management.

Huda Abason Oleru, State Minister for Veteran Affairs, explained her late arrival by citing the substantial workload on her desk, which often forces Ministers to be late for plenary sittings. She expressed regret and pledged to do better.

Minister Oleru said, “We struggle to balance our parliamentary duties with ministerial responsibilities. Our lateness is not deliberate, and I apologize for the adjournment of the House. We will strive to improve.”

Vincent Ssempijja, Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, attributed his delayed arrival at yesterday’s plenary sitting to heavy traffic and ongoing road construction on Jinja Road. Despite UPDF sirens and a lead car, it took him over an hour to travel from Mbuya to Parliament.

Ssempijja explained, “I left Mbuya at 1 pm, but the traffic was severe due to ongoing road works. Even with sirens, navigating through the traffic was challenging. I arrived 11 minutes late. We are always committed to attending on time, but in my case, it was the traffic.”

Yesterday, the Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Anita Among, abruptly adjourned the session due to the absence of government Ministers, expressing concern over the recurring absenteeism.

Speaker Among announced, “This is becoming a recurring issue, and we need to address it with the Executive. How can we conduct House proceedings without Ministers? We must find a solution.”The agenda included a motion to introduce a Private Member’s Bill entitled the Rainwater (Harvesting and Storage) Bill, and the adoption of a committee report on government assurances related to stabilizing fuel prices.

The absence of Ministers prevented Members from addressing issues affecting their constituencies.

Speaker Among emphasized the need for a lasting solution and promised to engage with the Executive to prevent further disruptions.

She stated, “I cannot let this continue. I will discuss this matter with the Executive. If this House is intended solely for Members of Parliament, we need clarity.”

Rule 25(1) of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament underscores the importance of Government Business, and Rule 26(1) gives precedence to Government Business on official sitting days. These rules highlight the significance of government proceedings in Parliament.