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Uganda in Shs41 trillion debt

Agnes Tumuheire — Wed, 03 Oct 2018 11:15:05 +0000

State Minister of Finance for Planning, Hon David Bahati: COURTESY PHOTO

The State Minister of Finance for Planning, Hon David Bahati, has declared that Uganda’s public debt is at Shs41 trillion, which is an equivalent of US$10 billion.

In a statement to Parliament read by Bahati, government also said the debt stock has increased from US$2.5 billion in the 2006/2007 financial year to US$10.7 billion by the end of the last financial year.

By the end of June 2018, the total debt amounted to US$10 billion, with external debt accounting for 67 per cent.

According to minister Bahati the the rising debt has been caused by the stagnant tax collection.

“Our tax base is not growing at the same rate,” he added, putting the tax to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio at 14.3 per cent.

The domestic debt stands at 32.4 per cent, most of which is drawn from local commercial banks.

Public debt is at 30 per cent. However the opposition members of parliament have objected a figure the Opposition is reluctant to believe.

Hon Ibrahim Ssemujju, the chief opposition Whip condemned government’s actions of piling up debts a thing that has put the country at stake.

“After borrowing this money, and we see the way His Excellency the President is throwing money at youth groups…you just need to be prudent on the way you spend money,” Ssemujju said.

Budadiri West MP Nandala Mafabi urged the government to come up with a gross loan request during the drafting of the National Budget.

“As soon as we pass a loan, the first people to celebrate are the sharks out there…if we put in a basket fund, the bids will not be expensive,” remarked Nandala.

Deputy Speaker, Jacob Oulanyah, referred the statement to the Committee on National Economy.

“The challenge that I face when presiding here is killing debate…just see the way we are proceeding now, we make these issues so trivial yet they are very serious,” said Oulanyah.

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Kassiano Wadri swears in as new Arua municipality MP

Agnes Tumuheire — Thu, 30 Aug 2018 09:07:14 +0000

Wadri Kassiano has officially taken on the seat as the new Member of Parliament for Arua municipality.

This was during a parliamentary ceremony presided over by the deputy speaker Jacob Oulanya.

He has replaced Col. Ibrahim Abiriga who was massacred by gunmen in June this year.

This is his fourth term as an MP, after representing Terego County for three terms.

He served the 9^th parliament as the chairperson of the public accounts committee of parliament.

The MP was elected on August 16,2018 but was not present at the time of the casting because he had been detained the previous evening. district for three months.

Wadri was granted bail by the Gulu High Court on Monday this week with other co-accused colleagues who are facing treason charges but was barred from travelling to his homeThe legislator admitted that he possessed a pistol on the day of his arrest in Arua, but was acquired legally.

“I am the representative of the people of Arua Municipality. In order to exercise the elective role, you must be in-charge of the electorate and issues on the ground and be seen to air the concerns of the electorate,”-Wadri

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NRM welcomes new Leader of Opposition, pledges to give her necessary support

Herman Nnyanzi — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 05:12:14 +0000

The ruling party, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) has welcomed the newly appointed Leader of Opposition and pledged to give her all the support necessary.

NRM Chief Whip in Parliament, Ruth Nankabirwa congratulated Gulu Municipality MP, Betty Ochan upon the appointment adding that the NRM was “happy with her appointment and will work with her to take the country forward.

“We shall give you full support in the conduct of your office because Uganda is for us all and we need to work together,” she said.

Govt. Chief Whip, Ruth Nankabirwa, congratulates Aol and assures her of government support as the position is provided for in the law. Nankabirwa also congratulates outgoing @LOP_UGANDA Winfred Kiiza and other MPs appointed by the Opposition #plenaryug @JacobOulanyah @Jadwong

— Parliament of Uganda (@Parliament_Ug) August 8, 2018

Ochan officially took office yesterday, August 8 replacing Kasese Woman MP, Winnie Kiiza who has served in the capacity since 2016.

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Indian Prime Minister to address Parliament

Agencies — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 07:53:33 +0000

By Nicholas Muteesasira

Narendra Modi the Indian Prime Minister will address the Parliament on Wednesday, 25 July 2018.
In his communication during the sitting of the House on Tuesday, 17 July 2018, the Deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanyah said that the Indian Prime Minister who is expected in the country on 24 July 2018 will address the House.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is expected in the country on 24 July 2018 will address the House

“This is to inform you that the time for his visit has been confirmed as 10am. I urge members to arrive in the chamber early ahead of President Yoweri Museveni and his guest,” Oulanyah said.
He also called on MPs to exercise caution during the Indian Prime Minister visit saying, “… hosting a visiting head of state in Parliament is not an ordinary event. We should reflect dignity and honour which is commensurate to Parliament”.

Rule 220(2) provides for visiting Heads of State and other dignitaries to address Parliament.
“Distinguished persons from within or without the nation may be allowed by the Speaker to address the House on any matter of importance,” the Rule states.
The visiting Prime Minister is also scheduled to hold bilateral talks with President Yoweri Museveni. The prime Minister of India Narendra Modi addressing the house in India.

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Parliament demands for actual number of UPDF death in Somalia attack

Isaac Senabulya — Thu, 05 Apr 2018 13:42:32 +0000

Soldier carry the remains of their lost Comredes. Ugandan officials have said only four soldiers were killed in the attack when Al-Shabaab Islamist extremists attacked their base on Sunday. Internet Photo

Alshabab attacked and killed at least four Ugandan soldiers at the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) base in Somalia on Sunday.

The attack happened on April 1st 2018 at Quoryole, Bulomareer and Golwein in Lower Shabelle region in Somalia.

Since the attack, the media has been awash with different statistics with some reports suggesting that 8 soldiers died whereas others have up to a tune of sixty soldiers.

The Shadow Minister of Defense who is also the Member of Parliament Kilak County North Gilbert Olanya raised the matter before parliament noting that their investigations indicate that 10 UPDF soldiers have died and 14 are injured.

The army spokesperson Brig .Richard Karemire told the media that four Ugandan soldiers had died, and only six were injured, while UPDF managed to kill 22 Alshabab Militants, although international media agencies reported higher figures of 46 and 59 as the number of dead UPDF soldiers.

On Tuesday, President Museveni revealed that actually 8 soldiers had been killed, and that UPDF managed to kill 36 alshabab terrorists.

MP Gilbert Oulanyah said that the death of these soldiers is raising speculations over the motive in the secrecy of this information.

Oulanya wanted to read out the names of the deceased who he thinks their number is slightly higher from that quoted by government and those considered injured but he was stopped by the deputy speaker Jacob Oulanyah.

He asked for Government to give the names and details of the dead and injured without concealing anything,

He also asked government to explain the plans it has of bringing the Ugandans soldiers back home since it was considered last year to withdraw them from Somalia.

While responding to the matter raised by mp Olanya ,the minister of Defense Adolf Mwesige told parliament that 130 Alshabab militants were killed by AMISOM forces on the day of the attack, while only 8 UPDF soldiers died.

He committed himself to give a comprehensive statement over this matter on Thursday 5^th April 2018 before parliament. Mwesige explained that four soldiers had died on the spot, while four died later from the injured six. He also said the UPDF will stay in Somalia as it has been agreed upon in the United Nations.

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Namuganza weeps before parliamentary committee

mugisa geofrey — Thu, 29 Mar 2018 11:54:45 +0000

State Minister for Lands, Princess Persis Namuganza uses a handkerchief to dry her eyes from tears while appearing before the Parliamentary committee

Bukono County Member of Parliament and Lands state minister Persis Namuganza on Wednesday broke down before members on the parliamentary committee on Rules, Discipline and Privileges as she explained her feud with the Speaker of parliament Rebecca Kadaga Alitwala, According to the observer,

She asked that the committee guides and reminds the speaker of the decorum of her office so she can stop using her ego dishonourably.

Deputy speaker of parliament Jacob Oulanyah directed the committee to probe into the ugly feud between the two Busoga sub-region region political kingpins.

Kadaga and Namuganza’s conflicts started early this month at function to launch boreholes in Bukono, where Namuganza reportedly told off Kadaga and Busoga king Gabula Nadiope to concentrate on ‘fighting jiggers in Kamuli’, which to her are a serious threat than ‘poking their noses’ into Namutumba affairs.

Kadaga along with the Kyabazinga of Busoga, William Gabula Nadiope IV had earlier gone to Namuganza’s Bukono constituency and installed a chief without her knowledge, which to the latter was an insult.

In response, Namuganza rallied her voters in Bukono to use stones and sticks to chase away the Kyabazinga if he ever goes back to that area in her absence and warned Kadaga to back-off matters of Bukono and Namutumba district generally.

The Speaker of The Parliament of Uganda Hon. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga

She said Kadaga should have declared war on the famine and drought that has hit Busoga. She should have declared war on jiggers that attacked Kamuli rather than declare a personal war on the Minister.

Namuganza further accused Kadaga of buying off her brothers and sisters to gang against her and also poison her.

The Minister also noted that, since those incidences happened, she could not take ‘water’ from her own family as she broke down in tears.

Namuganza told the committee that ever since the passing away of the late Bukono chief Christopher Mutyaba, her father, there has been a succession war that has left her family and the entire Busoga region divided.

And that because of the sensitivity of that Bukono chief issue, the president intervened, and in February this year, he advised that the succession ceremony be halted until all sides agree on the rightful chief.

Namuganza said she was shocked to learn that Kadaga flew to Bukono just a day after the president halted the process and installed a chief, which has since then sparked off violence in the region.

It was on that basis that Namuganza also asked the committee to advise Kadaga, to learn to always heed to the advice from President Museveni as a head of state to avoid unnecessary quarrels.

According to Namuganza, it was so disturbing that the leader of parliament couldn’t show any respect to the people she leads but rather work towards destabilizing Bukono people and the entire Busoga region.

Namuganza further noted that nobody desires to live a life of conflicts and that as a politician; she couldn’t sit and see the speaker start early campaigns for her political rival who she defeated in the 2016 general elections.

Namuganza asked the committee chaired by Kalaki MP clement Ongalo-Obote to compel speaker Kadaga to leave matters of royals to royals and never to pop her nose into affairs which do not concern her.

Regarding the political question, Ms Namuganza told the Committee that the Speaker never supported her in the NRM Primaries for the Parliamentary seat which were held five times amidst violence, only to later emerge winner with a landslide victory as an independent candidate.
In a surprising development, the minister accepted having insulted Ms Kadaga on several social functions but she said that this was provoked by the Speaker’s own actions.

On Tuesday 27^th March 2018, lawmakers from the Busoga Parliamentary Caucus appeared before the same committee and recommended for the censure of Ms Namuganza as minister, saying that she was involved in gross indiscipline.
The lawmakers further accused the minister of demeaning leaders from Busoga region mainly the Speaker and the Kyabazinga, William Gabula Nadiope IV whom she allegedly described as incompetent.
Namuganza said that she does not subscribe to the Caucus which she says it is not an organ of Parliament.
She instead asked the committee to probe the “caucus” for allegedly making ‘illegal declarations’ barring her from accessing her constituency.

She asked the committee to summon the Speaker to not only explain her role in the royal affairs of the kingdom and Bukono County, but also advise her on the parliamentary decorum relating to her position.
Namuganza wants the Speaker to apologise to her and the people of Bukono for allegedly opening fresh wounds regarding the controversial installation of the incumbent Kyabazinga.
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah tasked the committee about two weeks ago, to investigate the rift, establish the circumstances under which the two were bickering and advise Parliament.
Mr Oulanyah noted that the public exchanges were casting Parliament into negative light and needed to be put to rest

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Internal affairs minister asked to explain security situation in Masaka

Isaac Senabulya — Fri, 12 Jan 2018 09:17:05 +0000

The deputy speaker Jacob Oulanyah wants government to have an elaborate explanation about the state of security of its people.

The deputy speaker of parliament Jacob Oulanya has directed the minister of internal affairs to explain the security situation in the greater Masaka region and what government is doing about this.

This after the woman Member of Parliament for Masaka district Mary Babirye Kabanda requested that the parliamentary committee on security do independent investigations into these killings.

Kabanda explained that the killings that involve the panga wielding men started far back in February 2017 where a number of people have lost their lives with the most recent is what was reported on the 31^st of December 2017 in Bukomansimbi where five people lost their lives, 12 seriously injured and two are still admitted in hospitals in critical conditions.

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She requested that all families that lost their relatives be accorded the same financial assistance than when government carries out selective assistance.

Meanwhile, the shadow internal affairs minister Muwanga Kivumbi suggested that the issue of killings should be entirely investigated country wide since these have also been seen in other parts of the country including Wakiso, Teso, Northern Uganda among other places and the method of killing has always been the same.

The deputy speaker Jacob Oulanyah wants government to have an elaborate explanation about the state of security of its people.

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Report:Government should support education in hard to reach areas

Isaac Senabulya — Thu, 11 Jan 2018 12:42:53 +0000

Pupils learning under a tree:learning facilities in most parts of Uganda are in bad state according to the report.

The Equal opportunities commission has released a report that assessed 17 government sectors’ performance calling for interventions for government to enable the poor, orphans, learners in hard to reach areas to access the best education in their respective locations regardless of their economic status.

The commission report handed over to the deputy speaker of parliament Jacob Oulanyah indicates best education has turned out to be for those in better economic class.

One of commissioner’s on the Equal opportunity commission Jeol Ojuko noted that over the years the worst performing sub regions in PLE, UCE, UACE examinations are located in the Eastern region and of 30 districts poor performing districts six are from busoga which include Bugiri ,mayuge Luuka .kaliro ,iganga and Buyende.

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The commission also the health sector budget for the financial year 2018/19 is reduced by 136.6 billion shillings from 1.8 trillion shillings budgeted for this sector amid the health challenges Ugandans are facing which include drug stock outs, maternal mortality, lack of housing for health workers, inadequate hospitals among others.

The commission reported in the findings that they received complaints of unfair taxation which result into collapse of various businesses with over 50% failing to reach their first birth day.

The deputy speaker of parliament Jacob Oulanyah asked the Equal opportunity commission to get interested in pushing for government to have more focus on working on rural roads which are not under UNRA and are in poor state.

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PAC wants finance minister Kasaija, sacked

Isaac Senabulya — Thu, 11 Jan 2018 11:59:53 +0000

Hon. Angelline Osegge PAC chairperson

A Majority Report of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) presented by the Chairperson, Hon. Angelline Osegge on the utilization of US$200 million Preferential Trade Area (PTA) loan has recommended the censure of Finance Minister Matia Kasaija and sacking of Secretary to the Treasury, Keith Muhakanizi.

The report released to parliament by the public Accounts committee chairperson who is also Soroti district woman MP Angelina Ossege indicate that the loan was acquired from the East and southern Africa Trade and Development bank(PTA) to provide funds for the National medical stores in order to provide medical supplies to various hospitals.

The committed noted that despite the ministry of finance headed by minister Kasaija receiving the money did not give the money to the National medical stores to procure the required drugs which is now posing a health crisis and life threatening to the people.

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The committee stated that notwithstanding the several demands for the ministry officials to avail specifics on how the money was disbursed by the end of the financial 2016/17 this was never availed.

PAC hence faulted the minister of finance Matia kasaija for lying upon parliament in the justification for the loan approval stating that the critical area for funding was medical supplies for the National medical stores hence the ministry received this money fraudulently.

The committee further called for the sacking the secretary to Treasury Keith Muhakanizi over conflict of interest, collusion and connivance in abuse of this fund and be probed by the IGG.

The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah, said a comprehensive debate on the two reports would be held next week after allowing Kasaija an opportunity to present his case.

On his part, Kasaija said the matter touches on his integrity and that he would present his explanation and await the MPs’ decision on the matter.
“This is a very fundamental and very serious report. It touches on my integrity; I have served this country diligently for 50 years. This is a matter which I want to be given thorough opportunity to explain,” he said.

This imposed additional budgetary constraints on NMS, which sought financial support from government to the tune of shs68 billion to address the currency fluctuation.

The report contends that a similar loan for currency stabilization was rejected by Parliament, only to be reintroduced by Kasaija under the pretext of salvaging NMS.

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MPs demand Disability Access facilitations at Entebbe Airport

Isaac Senabulya — Wed, 10 Jan 2018 13:19:50 +0000

The Deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanyah has directed government to ensure that there are ramps for PWDs at Entebbe International Airport as construction works continue.

MPS have called for the improvement on the access of Entebbe Airport for persons with disabilities and ordinary people.

This comes after the Bubulo West MP Rose Mutonyi complained about the ongoing renovations which she says are inconveniencing people with disabilities as they cannot easily access the place.

Mutonyi says that construction at the airport blocked the route which ordinary people were using and has left the only passage to be the one on steps which she says is very inconveniencing for people with big luggage, Elderly and disabled.

She urged the government to set up Protective measures for ordinary citizens including the elderly and those with disabilities at Entebbe International airport as renovation is going on.

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The government chief whip Ruth Nankabirwa noted that renovations on going at the airport are temporary but has promised to direct the minister of transport Aggrey Bagyire to inspect the area so that they can rectify the problem.

However this did not satisfy MPs like Jack wamanga wamai, William Nzoghu who said that the country needs to follow the same procedures like it’s done in other countries where people with disabilities are handled in a special way at the airports.

The MP representing people with disabilities Asamo Hellen informed parliament that those services exist at the airport though they are selective.

This prompted the deputy speaker Jacob Oulanyah to demand that government direct the construction company to set up ramps at the airport to deal with the problem.

ALSO READ:Deputy speaker challenges MPs to full fill voter’s expectations

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