The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT The Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga on Wednesday adjourned the plenary session abruptly following a protest from Worker’s representative Sam Lyomoki.
Lyomoki staged a protest against Kadaga’s ruling to have the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Amendment Bill, 2019 considered in the next two weeks.
Presented before Parliament in August 2019, the Bill has generated controversy regarding the mid-term access of funds and whether it should be the Ministry of Finance or Gender to take charge of the funds.
Members of Parliament on the joint committee composed of Finance and Gender committees of parliament have in the past months been in discussions to finalize building consensus especially on the need for NSSF members who are below 45 years and have not saved for at least 10 years to be allowed to benefit from the midterm access window.
However, when the committee report was ready for presentation before parliament and consideration of the Bill, Lyomoki protested after a call by the Clerk to Parliament to have the Bill considered but the Minister of Public Service Muruli Mukasa appealed for rescheduling of the matter since the Minister for Gender, Labour and Social Development Frank Tumwebaze was not present.
Lyomoki immediately raised a procedural matter questioning why the new State Minister for Disabilities and Elderly Sarah Kanyike does not handle the Bill since she was in the House. He noted that the issue of the NSSF Bill had taken long on the order paper and needed to be considered immediately.
But Speaker Kadaga said that it was not fair to have the new Minister handle the Bill given that it has been marred with several controversies.
Kasilo County MP Elijah Okupa pleaded with Lyomoki to have the consideration of the Bill delayed saying that the relevant ministers were not in the House to handle the piece of legislation.
Erute South MP Odur Jonathan suggested that the Gender Committee report is tabled since it is ready and then allow the Bill consideration later. But Kadaga insisted that the report can only be presented with the presence of the line Ministers who need to table a motion to have the Bill considered.
She ruled that the Bill should be considered at the next convenient sitting of Parliament after the upcoming ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party primaries.
Despite a ruling by Kadaga, Lyomoki insisted that the Bill should be considered immediately.
Demands by Speaker to have Lyomoki take his seat fell on deaf ears forcing Kadaga to abruptly adjourn the sitting to Thursday afternoon.
Different workers leaders have since the Covid-19 pandemic petitioned the office of the Speaker raising concern on the delayed consideration of the Bill which they said would enable workers to get some benefits like unemployment benefits, relief funds and others for those facing financial hardships occasioned by the Covid-19 lockdown.
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