Hon. Kasaija first denied the allegations but later on he made an apology. “In my address, I never meant to say that Parliament passed 1% tax in error. I can’t come and fault and say that Parliament that acted in error, I couldn’t do that. I am part of this Parliament; I would have shot myself in the foot.” He added on saying “I apologize sincerely. I did apologize to the caucus yesterday. I never meant to say that Parliament passed the Act in error.”

However, Winnie Kiiza leader of opposition demanded that Hon.Kasaija submits a written statement of his apology. “I find it uncomforting that the apology that was demanded of the Minister is taken casually and yet it is affecting a serious matter because the integrity at Parliament is at stake, Ugandans will not believe it anymore.” She demanded.

Also read:

•  Uganda is not quitting ICC –Kadaga
• Nakaseke MP decries shortage of ARVs in district

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This comes after the closed meeting with chairpersons of the committees who informed her of the different challenges they are facing including limited funds and very new clerks who are not yet aware on how to handle parliamentary work which has made their work difficult.

Nankabirwa noted that she has received reports from witnesses that they are mistreated in committees by MPs to the extent that some of them feel like they are being tortured.

Nankabirwa also said that she wants to curtail the absence of MPs in committees saying that the chairperson have asked her to begin attending committees to see if her presence will improve on attendance.

Nankabirwa also said that in the meeting she had warned chairpersons against taking any financial assistance from individuals with out getting the speakers approval as this might compromise them.

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About 430,000 women have benefited from the women enterprise fund since 2015. Internet Photo

The Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga has directed government to stop using funds meant for the Women Enterprise Fund to train local government officials about the project.

Kadaga made the directive at a workshop that was updating members of parliament on the implementation of the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship programme at parliament.

She said that the local government officials have got much training and should not waste the women fund.

She was also angry that 10 million shillings was cut from the women enterprise fund in the budget cuts and alerted MPs to ensure that this money is returned.

She said that money of the Women Enterprise Fund should be increased to a meaningful amount to cover more women.

She said that there should be an agency facilitating the marketing of the products and items produced by women groups benefiting from this fund so as they service the loan without difficulty.

Members of parliament who include the for Gulu District Woman MP, Betty Aol ,MP for Bubulo West, Rose Mutonyi and Mitoma district woman MP, Jovah Kamateka,  complained of disparities in giving out this Women Enterprise Fund who said that some districts were not benefiting equally as some were receiving much funds compared to others .

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development Pius Birigirimana called for the amendment of the PPDA Act to have a special treatment of women while procurement is being done in the women owned projects,

He asked MPs to ensure that the women projects are given priority during tender procurement so as are not left out basing on the law to access the required funds needed to start an enterprise for income generation while handling the amendment of the PPDA ACT.

He encouraged women groups which have already accessed the women enterprise fund to pay back to enable other women groups in the country to access the same fund to start their projects,

He stated that the districts which will have big numbers of women returning the funds will have a chance of receiving more funds for other women groups.

The minister of State for Gender, Peace Mutuzo, noted that there are number of women groups whose projects had funds approved but have never received this fund asking them to be patient saying they will get their money any time.

The Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme (UWEP) is an initiative by the Government of the Republic Uganda to improve women’s access to financial services, equip them with the skills for enterprise growth, value addition and marketing of their products and services.

About 430,000 women have benefited from the women enterprise fund since 2015.

In 2015 1.9 million shillings released, 2016,29 billion ,201730 billion and 57 billion is for the financial 2018/19 for this project.

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This came after the decision by parliament ordering him to vacate nnomo Gallery.

RELATED: Kadaga orders Gen. Tumwine to vacate nnomo gallery

Last week, while receiving and debating the committee of Gender report on the Ministerial Policy Statement of the Ministry of Gender, Parliament resolved to push the Minister out of Nnomo Gallery and ordering him to pay a rent arrears of over Shs1bn since 1998.

However, this decision was disregarded by Tumwine who noted that Speaker was acting in ignorance while giving such an order.

Gen. Elly Tumwine

 Tumwine while responding to the parliamentary ruling rubbished claims that he owes parliament 1.6 billion shillings and noted that parliament does not collect rent.

Tumwine said that  a parliamentary recommendation is impossible because Nnomo gallery is not for government, “I repeat; Nommo gallery is for visual artists. President Milton Obote donated one of the houses that were part of State House at Nakasero and from then Nommo gallery is for artists, not government,” he charged.

The Minister’s statements have since angered legislators who led by Rubaga North MP, Moses Kasibante have asked the Speaker to summon Tumwine to make a personal statement on the issues raised.

Kasibante’s suggestion was supported by several of the members including; Buhweju County MP, Francis Mwijukye, Aruu County MP, Odonga Otto and Iganga Municipality MP, Peter Mugema.

The Speaker ruled to have the Minister appear before the house and explain himself over the matter.

ALSO READ: Parliament queries supply of uniforms in police force

ALSO READ:Parliament halts salary increment for science teachers

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State minister for Internal Affairs Obiga. Daily Monitor

This came as the minister of state for Internal Affairs, Obinga Kania reported that the police force is currently tailoring uniforms of its officers and each officer is supplied with two pairs of uniforms every year which however did not please the members of parliament  who argued that police officers especially those operating in rural areas were stilling wearing old uniforms.

RELATED: Parliament halts salary increment for science teachers

Members of parliament including the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga  were surprised to hear that in the last two years the police force has been supplying two pairs of police uniforms to each police officer but some are stilling putting old uniforms thus calling  for a probe to find the whereabouts of the alleged supplied uniforms.

The Member of Parliament for Kole North County, Bonny Okello called for improvement of police welfare in regard to provision of uniforms and construction of police secondary children schools in most of the regions in the country.

Okello said that most police officers in the village police stations were operating without police uniforms and shoes.

He noted that  some police officers who operate  upcountry  buy their own uniforms and shoes when they  go for more  training from fellow police officers in urban centres who have more than two uniforms.

He said that government should help in construction of secondary schools that teach police officers children as its happening with the army to cater for their children’s education at small fees.

ALSO READ: Government apologies for delay in releasing nodding disease funds

ALSO READ: Police launches lost and found property App

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Uganda Minister of Finance Matia Kasaija displays a briefcase carrying national budget before presenting it to the nation during a budget speech.

Members of Parliament on the finance committee have opposed government’s proposal to tax Saccos and individuals engaged in agriculture.
The proposals that also include a ban on importation of vehicles older than eight years are contained in tax bills for the financial year 2018/2019.
The eight tax bills, which are being considered by the Parliament Committee on Finance, include the Excise Duty (Amendment) Bill 2018, Lotteries and Gaming (Amendment) Bill 2018, the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill 2018 and The Stamp Duty (Amendment) Bill 2018.
The Minister of State for Finance (Planning), David Bahati, who presented the bills to the Committee on 24 April, 2018 defended the proposals and denied that they were intended to burden Ugandans.
Hon. Moses Walyomu (NRM, Kagoma County) noted that reinstating the tax on Saccos despite a government commitment to the contrary, will discourage Ugandans from saving.
“We exempted Saccos from taxes to encourage Ugandans to save, let us not re-introduce this tax,” Walyomu said.
Joseph Ssewungu (DP, Kalungu County West) also opposed the taxing of Saccos saying that the majority of Ugandans use savings groups to improve their income.
“Why should Saccos be taxed yet we know that many Ugandans borrow from them because of the low interest rates?” said Ssewungu.
Hon. John Bagoole (Independent, Luuka North) urged government to revise the proposal of levying one percent tax on individuals engaged in agriculture.
“This tax should be levied only on commercial agriculture and not individuals who are practicing subsistence farming,” said Bagole.
Isaac Mulindwa Ssozi (NRM, Lugazi Municipality) called for the complete removal of the proposed tax on agriculture.
“Agriculture is the backbone of Uganda and therefore, any tax in agriculture is not called for,” said Ssozi.
Nathan Nandala Mafabi (FDC, Budadiri West) advised government to institute measures that will motivate Ugandans to buy new cars before banning the importation of old ones.
“The moment you stop the old vehicles from being imported, you must reduce tax on the new ones,” Mafabi elaborated.
Akello Judith Franca (FDC, Agago district) questioned whether government carried out a cost proposal analysis before proposing tax amendments.
“How is Uganda going to benefit from the ban on importation of vehicles after foregoing Shs182 billion,” said Akello.
Francis Mukula (Independent, Agule) said that the ban on old vehicles will make it impossible for majority of Ugandans who are low income earners to buy vehicles.
“I presume the cheapest new vehicle will be Shs 60 million. What plan does the government have for Ugandans who cannot afford new vehicles,” asked Mukula.

Bahati explained that the proposed new taxes are aimed at augmenting the tax effort and are expected to raise Shs951.5 billion, while Shs272 billion is expected to be raised from administrative efficiency to achieve the policy target of 0.5 per cent in line with National Development Plan II.

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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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President Museveni officiates at International Women’s Day celebrations in Dokolo. Photo Daily Monitor

President Yoweri Museveni has said that women are the base of society and, therefore, should not be marginalized.

Museveni made the remarks during the celebrations to mark International Women’s Day held at Busuubizi Core Primary Teachers’ College in Mityana district. This year’s theme is “Empowerment of Rural Women and Girls: Opportunities and Challenges.”

President Museveni said that from the very beginning, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) did not agree with the old societies’ practice of marginalizing women and went ahead to recruit them into the liberation Army even when everyone thought they would not be able to fight.

“When fighting Idi Amin in 1979, we recruited women in FRONASA but our partners did not agree with us and thought that women should be in the kitchen preparing meals for the soldiers. But in 1986, when we were totally in charge with no power sharing, we recruited them,” he said.

The President said that apart from the Army, the NRM government has also empowered women to join politics, get education and own property.

“We empowered women to join politics by creating the position of the District Woman Member of Parliament. That is why we have so many women in Parliament today,” he said.

ALSO READ: Museveni meets old friend, Dr. Pierre Perrin

He said that because of the NRM policies, women have now joined the Army yet previously they were only in the Police Force. In education, the President said that the number of girls joining university has also increased since the government introduced the 1.5 points affirmative action.

Regarding the issue of property ownership, the President said that men had monopolized property ownership and women would not inherit property but this has since then been changed.

“A girl would not inherit where she was born or where she was married but we moved very carefully in our guerilla way and said nobody should sell the marital home without the consent of the wife,” he said.

Museveni also used the event to award over 20 Police Officers with medals on Women’s Day. Internet Photo

President Museveni called upon parents to allow their daughters and widows inherit property.

“In my family, I will leave my daughters property just like my son General Muhoozi Kainerugaba will do,” he said.

He, however, cautioned women against marrying for wealth citing that wealth was not only found in marriage. He said women should be empowered so as not to be dependent on men.

“I want to appeal to the MPs here, that after dealing with roads, hospitals, schools and security in the budget, we should put more money in the wealth funds,” he said.

The President also asked Local Government officials to stop collecting taxes from low earners such as ‘muchomo’ and gonja (plantain) grillers along the roads. Collecting taxes from such people, he said, can cause you a lot of curses because those people are already poor.

President Museveni also warned men against domestic abuse. He said in his 50 years with his wife, Janet Museveni, he has never raised a hand against her.

“If you see a man beat a woman know that he is stupid and a coward. If a man wants to fight someone, he should look for a fellow man to fight with. If you beat a woman and after, wear pants that you are a man, I cannot respect you,” he said.

Mr. Museveni called upon women to report men that beat them so that they are arrested. He added that women should be empowered so as not to stay in abusive relationships because they are dependent on the men who beat them.

On the issue of crime and the recent killings of women in Entebbe and Nansana, President Museveni said that government would procure all necessary equipment to defeat the rapists, kidnappers and murderers.

“We concentrated much on defeating terrorists and rebels but we are now going to procure whatever is necessary to defeat these criminals,” he pledged.

He revealed that the security agencies have made a number of arrests in the Entebbe, Nansana and Bukomansimbi murders. He, however, expressed disappointment in the escape of some suspects arrested in Bukomansimbi for murders during Christmas time last year. He wondered why the Prisons authorities had taken the suspects to court without handcuffs, which eased their escape.

At the ceremony, Michel Sidibe, the Executive Director of the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), was awarded the distinguished order of the Nile Medal for his contribution towards the fight against HIV/AIDS in Uganda.

Mr. Sidibe called upon the government and civil society to put women and girls at the center of all their policies, roles and strategies and to ensure zero tolerance to sexual harassment.

Other 147 medals under the categories of Nalubaale Medal, Golden Jubilee and the Special Police Award, were given out to outstanding citizens for their contribution to the country.

The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, thanked the NRM government for making amendments such as the creation of the District Woman MP position that has seen the percentage of female MPs in Parliament go up to 35%.

“I hope in the next elections, we shall achieve 50% representation,” she said.

Hon. Janat Mukwaya, Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, called upon government ministries to work for the empowerment of women. She said it was not only up to her Ministry to promote women empowerment but other ministries, such as that in charge of water, to ensure that women have access to water for domestic use and farming.

Minister Mukwaya also thanked President Museveni for introducing the Women Fund that she said has benefited 43,977 women, 80% of whom were from rural areas.

“If more money is out in the fund, we shall empower many more women,” she said.

Speaking on behalf of the Chairperson of the Uganda Women Council, Helen Grace Osamo, noted that the policies and laws initiated by the NRM government have uplifted the life of 76% of Uganda’s population in rural areas who are mainly women and girls.

The United Nations Resident Coordinator, Rosa Malango, applauded the government for creating enabling policies and legal environment towards women and girls. She, however, called for more action on the issue of child marriages.

The Vice President Edward Ssekandi, the Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, the Deputy Chief Justice Owiny Dollo, the Chief of the Defense Forces General David Muhoozi, the NRM deputy Secretary General Richard Todwong, MPs, heads of diplomatic missions in Uganda and a delegation of MPs from Malawi attended the celebrations.

ALSO WATCH: President Museveni Takes a Swipe at Police at Women’s Day Celebrations in Mityana

Source: State House Uganda

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In its 18^th annual report to parliament detailing the status of the human rights observance across the country, the Commission registered an increase of 4,227 complaints in 2015 compared to 3904 in 2013 period.

However, the report notes that out of these cases, only 731 complaints met the criteria of human violence which were mainly due to family and election violence.

The report ranks prolonged detention of political suspects beyond the mandatory 48 hours, violation of freedom from torture and cruel inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, violation of the right to personal liberty top on the list of human rights abuses in 2015.

Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga.

While delivering the annual report to the Speaker of Parliament, on Thursday July 28, 2016, the Commission Chairperson Hon. Meddi Kaggwa faulted state institutions especially the police for violating the rights of especially suspects by detaining them beyond the mandatory period of 48 hours without being produced in the Courts of law.

Despite the various reports about institutional brutality, UHRC says the Uganda Police is always have the majority of cases of human rights violations reported against it. The Commission insists that the Police personnel should use modern techniques of investigation and equipment to avoid the use of torture in obtaining information and controlling crowds.

“Some police officers have not seen the Constitution and other relevant laws they have to implement while executing their duties. They should be equipped with the relevant compendium of laws”, the Commission Chair noted.

Kaggwa, however, said most of the torture cases were registered during and after the 2016 general campaigns.

Hon. Medi Kaggwa also reported several challenges in the prisons and detention facilities where the high prison population and the detention of juveniles with adults remain key challenges.

The Commission has proposed several decongesting measures that include the amendment of the law to prohibit the detention of civil debtors, the use of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms and the appointment of more judges and magistrates to handle cases especially in the countryside.

Kaggwa reported that UHRC had visited 896 detention centers out of which 173 were for prisons, 205 police stations, 509 police posts, four military prisons and five remand homes.

He noted that the status of prisons is still worrying because prisoners still use the bucket system to dispose off their human waste; a situation he says is unhealthy and can easily cause an outbreak of diseases within the prison.

The report has also highlighted delays in the implementation of the UHRC Tribunal Awards, which has raised a debt to a tune of about 5 billion Uganda shillings.

The Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga urged the Commission to follow up on matters relating to justice for minority ethnic groups.

She says that the minimum wage issue which is being pushed by Parliament has never been given consideration.

The Speaker hailed the UHRC for its timely reports but appealed to government to table country reports on human rights before Parliament ahead of their consideration by International agencies. She promised to follow up with all the recommendations in the report.

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MPs Mohammed Nsereko, Barnabas Tinkasimiire, Theodore Sekikubo and Wilfred Nwagaba

In the meantime, West Budama South MP-Tororo District Markson Jacob Oboth has withdrawn from the race saying it’s not a practice of common wealth Practice to stand against the Incumbent Deputy Speaker of
parliament.

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