Oulanyah wants dialogue over the political impasse in parliament

Kampala, Uganda | GODFREY SSALI | The deputy speaker of parliament Jacob Oulanyah has called on the leader of government business in parliament and the leader of opposition to engage in dialogue to resolve the current political impasse following the events that characterized the debate to remove the presidential age limit.

In his communication to the house when parliament resumed business on Tuesday, Oulanyah said it is important for the two sides in parliament led by Ruhakana Rugunda and Winnie Kiiza respectively to exercise leadership for smooth running of the legislative business as MPs start their the new year, which is also the third year of the 10th parliament.

 “The year 2017 was in a way very challenging to the parliament of Uganda and collectively as parliamentarians, I urge the Prime Minister, the leader of the opposition, all the whips to dialogue and see to it that we co-exist because we cannot act in isolation,” said Oulanyah.

Oulanyah noted that dialogue between the two sides is important to heal the institution from polarization and promote harmony.

On the December, 18 2017, six MPs were suspended from parliament for three and seven sittings respectively for masterminding chaos as the House resumed debate on the proposal to amend the constitution.

The MPs suspended, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda (Kira municipality), Gerald Karuhanga (Ntungamo municipality), Anthony Akol (Kilak North) were due to return on Wednesday after missing three sittings while Mubarak Munyagwa Sserunga (FDC,Kawempe South), Allan Sewanyana (DP, Makindye West), Jonathan Odur (UPC, Erute South) are scheduled to return on Wednesday January 17, 2018.

Parliament resumed Plenary Sittings on Tuesday after passing of the Age Limit Bill in December last year.

During this period, the Parliamentary sectoral Committees will be reviewing the National Budget Framework Paper 2017/18 with a UGX 29.274 Trillion Proposed Budget. Committee work should be able to be completed in time for the NBFP to be passed by Parliament by 1st February 2018, according to the Public Finance Management Amendment Act 2015.