MPs, Deputy Speaker clash on anti-corruption demo

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa had a difficult TIME controlling the House as it returned from recess on Tuesday.

Amidst the “walk to Parliament” in Kampala, the leader of the Opposition, Joel Senyonyi openly accused the administration of double standards when dealing with protestors against alleged corruption at Parliament.

Senyonyi said Thomas Tayebwa on 12th July met and received protestors who turned up at Parliament to present a petition against Lwemiyaga MP, Theodore Ssekikubo.

Ssekikubo is leading the collection of signatures for the censure of former Leader of the Opposition, Mathias Mpuuga, and three backbench commissioners, Solomon Silwany, Esther, and Prossy Mbabazi who allegedly shared the 1.7 Billion shillings as a service award.

There is a feeling that top leaders in parliament have been fighting to ensure that the motion of censure does not proceed. He said it seems the Speakers are determined to see that Ssekikuubo does not raise the needed signatures for the censure motion to be tabled in Parliament.

Tayebwa mentioned the word Gen-Z in his address but seemed to sweep whatever was happening about the walk to parliament protest under the carpet.

He then gave the floor to the leader of the Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi who then questioned the leadership at Parliament accusing it of playing double standards when dealing with the anti-corruption protests.

“There seems to be double standards within this institution of ours called the parliament of Uganda. Rt. Honorable Speaker….. there are citizens that came to parliament with placards protesting against one of our colleagues the Honorable Theodore Ssekikuubo. They came the first day they were ushered in nicely with their placards,” he said

I thought that in the same way you received those who were protesting against one of our honorable colleagues, you would also receive the young people in the same manner, because they have concerns as citizens of this country,” he added.

As Parliament met, the young people were engaging in running battles with the police and the army. They were marching to parliament to demand the resignation of the Speaker of Parliament, Annet Anita Among whom they accused of corruption. Anita Among was however not within the precincts of Parliament.

Thomas Tayebwa did not communicate to the House whether she was in or out of the country.

In responding to Senyonyi, Thomas Tayebwa said, “What happened when some people entered here in parliament 12th July for record purposes is not something that had been sanctioned by the leadership of Parliament. The people who came and entered, I would say a lase of security because we had not guided security of Parliament very well”

“We are sorry over what happened on the 12th. That lapse but our procedure for receiving petitions is clear. The institution of parliament has not received any notification. Formal notification on anyone who wants to bring a petition about the issues they are talking about in public,” said Tayebwa.

While Tayebwa had apologized to the House about the security lapse, the matter of the youth protestors seemed settled, Buhweju MP, Francis Mwijukye rose on the matter of the procedure to bring it back to the debate.

Mwijukye questioned what he described as extraordinary deployment as the presence of the army in the city and the rest of the country.

“I’m wondering whether we are at war. While I was coming here, I met mambas manned by the army. My concern is whether the police have been overwhelmed,” he asked.

It did not look like a laughing matter to the Butambala MP, Muwanga Kivumbi who has over the years battled against brutality by the police and members of the armed forces.

“Our cardinal fundamental role is to sniff out what concerns Ugandans. And unflinchingly come to this House and debate those matters,” he stated.

“In the whole of East Africa, not only in Uganda but in the neighboring Kenya, young people are raising their voices. They are speaking boldly and acting like so” he said.

Muwanga Kivumbi went on to suggest that Parliament should create space on the order paper to address issues raised by the young people.

“Because democracy has no meaning if those who have an opportunity to speak the concerns that have concerns to speak”

“Otherwise for us to gloss over and laugh over them, one day they will overwhelm those mambas. They will overwhelm those forces. And descend to our homes, to our places of work, and say we no longer represent them” warned Kivumbi.

He then went on to personally appeal to Thomas Tayebwa who he said used to fight similar street battles as youth wingers of the opposition. The Speaker of Parliament on the hand said she was not willing to entertain debate based on rumors.

“I want to appeal to you. And when I appeal to you, I take this as a special place for you. Because you and me Rt. Hon Speaker come from that kind of activism. We have been there, we know what it takes. And we have been beaten together with you over the years”

Muwanga Kivumbi was a member of the Uganda Young Democrats, while Thomas Tayebwa was among the FDC stalwarts before he crossed to the ruling NRM.

Equally, the Speaker of Parliament, Annet Anita Among belonged to the FDC and was seen as Dr. Kiiza Besigye’s loyalist.   In response to Kivumbi, Thomas Tayebwa insisted that he would not go on the streets to shop for those who intended to petition parliament.

The atmosphere in the house turned tense as MPS from the opposing side pointed fingers and shouted at each other. Among those was Kampala Central MP, Muhammed Nsereko. Some MPS were heard asking each other “ Who are you?”

The speaker then went on “Haji I request you. Listen to your speaker. Just be seated please …please. Honorable colleagues stop exchanging with each other…”

We shall sink together said Tayebwa

Tayebwa then went on to highlight his feelings about what was going on in the August House. There appears to be a fight among some of the legislators.

“What pains me is how colleagues have gone for each other. And this brings to a point of worry on us honorable colleagues on how we have gone for each other” he said.

“At such a critical time, it brings to an African saying that when brothers fight to death, strangers inherit their wealth. You are fighting each other to death; others will inherit your wealth here”

President Museveni during his State of the Nation Address raised concerns about the level of corruption in Parliament. He went on to reject the appropriations Bill for the 2024 2025 budget.

He cited what he described as indiscipline in budgeting, sabotage of national priorities, and corruption among lawmakers.

The executive went on to execute the arrest of legislators on the budget committee. It also arrested and began the prosecution of MPS accused of stealing money for cooperatives.

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