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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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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Member of Parliament for Ayivu County, Bernard Atiku

Parliament has granted leave to the Member of Parliament for Ayivu County, Bernard Atiku, who intends to introduce a private member’s bill for an Act entitled; “The prevention and prohibition of human sacrifice and harmful practices bill 2017”.

Atiku’s  motion seeking leave was seconded by the Woman Member of Parliament for Kumi district who is also the chairperson of the Uganda Women Parliamentary Association, Monica Amoding.

Atiku told Parliament that despite the existence of international instruments, national laws and government efforts in place to protect individuals right to life and degrading acts, ritual killings and human sacrifice practices are on rise in the country and that children are increasingly becoming the most common victims.

She said that the bill seeks to fight the growing evil of human sacrifices in Uganda saying  the witch craft Act has lost relevance in today’s circumstances.

Atiku noted that since 2009 about 219 cases of ritual murders have been reported from different parts of the country.

She pointed out that child sacrifice is highly happening in central region districts which include; Mukono, Masaka, Buikwe ,Mpigi ,Wakiso ,Kampala and in Busoga sub region especially in Jinja and few cases in West Nile and Northern Uganda

The Woman MP for Kumi district, Monica Amoding, noted that there is a feeling in the public that traditional medicine which involves blood and use of human body parts is stronger when applied to fight illness which justifies increase in cases of human sacrifice.

Government Chief Whip, Ruth Nankabirwa, said that government has no objection to this bill, saying that the mover of the bill is complimenting government efforts to stop acts of child sacrifice.

Deputy Speaker, Jacob Oulanyah granted the request for leave from Parliament to Atiku to go and prepare for the presentation of the bill.

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Government Chief Whip in Parliament, Ruth Nankabirwa

Parliament has amended section 34, sub rule (1) of the Rules of procedure pushing the Prime Minister’s question time to Thursday of the week from Wednesday on justification that the Minister cannot beat the traffic jam on Entebbe road to attend the Parliamentary proceedings in time.

The proposal was moved by the government Chief Whip, Ruth Nankabirwa, while Parliament was handling the amendment of rules procedure.

Nankabirwa, said that since the head of state chose Wednesday to be cabinet day and being that cabinet meeting sit in Entebbe to enable the prime minister to be in parliament in time to answers MPS questions on different matters.

The Opposition Chief Whip, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, had wanted Parliament to reject the proposal to shift the prime minister’s question time to Thursday since tax payers pay money for the President’s office which is in Kampala.

But parliament agreed to approve the government chief whip’s amendment on this matter.

Ministers in the past have been absent or late for Parliament’s proceedings especially on Wednesday ,on ground that they are delayed in Cabinet meeting causing suspension of the sitting for some minutes waiting for their presence for Parliament to transact business of the day .

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Moses Kasibante, MP for Rubaga North

Parliament has directed the Ministers of Security and Internal Affairs to explain the ongoing killings of people and brief the country under what circumstances police is shooting live bullets to the people.

The matter was raised before Parliament by the Member of Parliament for Nansana Municipality, Wayima Nsereko and Rubaga North MP, Moses Kasibante in relation to cases involving the killing of 2 women in Nansana Municipality and shooting a woman who was in the company of former cranes strike, Godfrey Massa.

Rubaga North MP Moses Kaisbante raised the matter before Parliament and asked government to explain why the police used live bullets to shoot at the former Uganda Cranes captain.

Last Thursday, police reported that Massa’s car was shot at by their officers near the Namboole flyover in Bweyogerere.

The MP for Kapelabyong County, Julius Ochen, criticised the government for not taking action when the civilians are being killed and demanded to know the causes of the rampant killings of people in the country.

The government Chief Whip, Ruth Nankabirwa, says that all the issues regarding killings and shootings will be forwarded to the Security Council that sits every Thursday.

The Deputy Speaker, Jacob Oulanyah, ruled that the Nankabirwa gives the House a report next Tuesday after the Security Council’s meeting.

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Nyabushozi County MP, Col .Fred Mwesigye.

Parliamentarian have reconstituted their Sessional Parliamentary Committees which had expired after they previously existed for only one year.

The new changes in the leadership of the committees have also seen some current chairpersons dropped with others replaced whereas some others have retained their previous slots as chairpersons and their deputies.

The Presidential Affairs Committee according to the new arrangements will now be taken over by the Adjumani Woman MP, Jessca Ababiku, who is replacing the Nyabushozi County MP, Col .Fred Mwesigye.
Other changes also include, the Aringa North MP, Godfrey Onzima will take on from Igara County West MP, Raphael Magyezi as the Chairperson for the Committee on Public Service and Local Government, while the Luweero Woman MP, Eng Lilian Nakatte, will head the Committee on Infrastructure, replacing Eng. Denis Sabiiti of Rubanda West in Kabale district.

Ndezi Alex who represents PWDs for Central region in Parliament takes over the Gender, Labour and Social Development Committee and will be deputised by the Buikwe district Woman MP, Judith Babirye who replaces, Margaret Komuhangi and Beatrice Anywar respectively.

Hon. Ruth Nankabirwa, the Government Chief Whip

Last week, Parliament witnessed bitter reactions from opposition lawmakers who objected to the appointment of a Member of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) by the Government Chief Whip, Ruth Nankabirwa. Nankabirwa had designated Hon. Maxwell Akora, Maruzi county as Vice Chairperson to the Committee on Information and Communication Technology.

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Government Chief Whip, Ruth Nankabirwa.

The government chief whip, Ruth Nankabirwa, says that if the country is to realize the production of oil by 2020, there is urgent need to work on the roads that will help in the transportation of oil.

Nakanbirwa, however, still insists that government’s emphasis still remains those of improving of agriculture by ensuring that it reduces imports and increases exports.

She says that government will use experts who are to help the communities on how to use solar powered irrigation so as to improve on production.

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Government Chief Whip, Hon Ruth Nakabirwa.

Government Chief  Whip, Ruth Nankabirwa, says she will not deter NRM Members of Parliament from getting money meant to buy cars.

This comes after her counterpart the Opposition Chief Whip, Ibrahim Semujju Nganda, on Tuesday informed the media that FDC had stopped its Members of Parliament from receiving the 200 million shillings  meant to buy cars and that they had  instead asked them to take it as a loan if they felt they needed the cars.

Nankabirwa, says that she does not see anything wrong with a MPs getting cars to help them carry out their duties and says that if FDC refuses the money it will be used to do other government programs.

She adds that so far, MPs have impressed with the performance of government in these first three months although a number of them are new yet they have been able to conduct government business well.

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Nankabirwa said members are put on pressure by aspirants who engage in early campaigns and spend most of the time in the constituency to secure their seats instead of concentrating on parliament work. She noted that unless the electoral commission is given enough funds and powers to perform its duty, reducing the term of parliament will not stop law makers from canvassing for votes yet opponents also start looking for votes at the time when elected MPs are sworn in parliament.

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Speaking to the press in response to a request from the minister of fisheries Ruth Nankabirwa, the chairman of the forum Dr.  Lulume Bayiga gave assurance to the minister that her letter to the forum will be positively reciprocated.

The fisheries forum says while stumping down on illegal fishing, there is need to improve the fisheries sector to ensure the there is more productivity.

They say the fishing industry should not be for export alone but also for local consumption.

The chairman adds that there is a move to push for a separate vote for fisheries in the ministry so that it manages the affairs of fisheries independently.

Lulume adds that the fishing industry could make big returns in revenue only if it were well handled and well funded in terms of expertise and improvement of staffing.

Ultimate Media

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