Chief whip under attack over committee deployment

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT |  Parliament witnessed an unprecedented attack against the Government Chief Whip, Ruth Nankabirwa by the Kyankwanzi Woman MP, Ann Maria Nankabirwa.

The Kyankwanzi Woman MP couldn’t take it when Government Chief Whip dropped her from the Natural Resources Committee where she has been serving as a member.

It all started when Ruth Nankabirwa designated her party members to serve on different Sectoral Committees during the plenary chaired by the speaker, Rebecca Kadaga as the Fourth Session of the Tenth Parliament takes shape.

Ann Maria Nankabirwa shot up on a point of procedure when she didn’t hear her name on the Natural Resources Committee, saying she had applied to serve on the committee given her Ceramic Technology profession but only to be shocked that she had been left out.

She raised queries directed at the Government Chief Whip, Ruth Nankabirwa who had earlier on reportedly told her she had the mandate to place her in a committee of her choice.

The MP also accused the Government Chief Whip of holding meetings in her constituency with a view of fronting opponents against her in the upcoming 2021 elections.

The teary Kyankwanzi Woman MP, appealed to Kadaga for justice, saying that she has evidence implicating the Whip. 

Asked by Speaker Kadaga about the matter, the Government Chief Whip Ruth Nankabirwa, said they have a system they follow in the NRM party that requires her to consult widely before submitting names to the Central Executive Committee (CEC) for approval.

She said the list of nominees was discussed and approved by the CEC sitting at Nakasero on Sunday. She ignored the accusations of politically fighting the Kyankwanzi Woman MP, saying there was no need for a member to be sentimental over the committee appointments.

The Government Chief Whip deployed Nankabirwa to serve on the Science and Technology Committee. She attributed Nankabirwa’s outburst on local politics, saying that the Speaker was free to investigate the matter.   

The exchange drew reactions from MPs. The Kasese Municipality MP, Robert Centenary sought a clear explanation from the Government Chief Whip whether she consulted Nankabirwa before deploying her to another committee.

The Aruu South MP, Odongo Otto weighed in describing the development as very peculiar noting that no one should be subjected to forced Labour.

He told Kadaga that her Chair is looked at to give hope to members whose parties have contradictions and asked her to consider the concerns raised by the Kyankwanzi Woman MP. 

The West Budama North MP, Richard Okoth Othieno also spoke about the unfairness in the designation of the Chairpersons and members of different committees.

He said that there was a big problem in the NRM since members are discussed but not given an opportunity to respond.

The Speaker, Rebecca Kadaga said that the matter was unprecedented and needed time to give her ruling. She denied having been part to the NRM CEC meeting that discussed the designation of members.   

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