Parliament Leadership Paves Way For Debate on Corruption

August 2, 2024

The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa has revealed that plans are underway to give legislators ample time to raise concerns about unanswered issues of corruption in the legislature and other arms of Government.

Tayebwa told a charged House on Tuesday that the debate on corruption will be handled in the item of deliberating on the State of the Nation Address that was delivered by President Yoweri Museveni early last month.

Parliament was sitting under heavy security deployment aimed at thwarting a planned protest by the youths which through a social media campaign was termed as “the March to Parliament”. For over a month, the campaign coming up as a copy cut of the one that paralaysed Kenya recently has been promoted on social media as the protesters were determined to stamp corruption out of Parliament.

However, Tayebwa refused to yield to the pressure and heckling from mainly opposition legislators who wanted to debate the issue of the arrested and dispersed protestors, saying two days of debate would soon ensue.

“Tomorrow (Wednesday), the Business Committee of Parliament is sitting and the issues we are considering on our business is the State of Nation Address where all these issues the President raised are to be discussed. We are going to debate these issues for two days. I don’t think it is helpful for us to start exchanging with one another,” remarked Tayebwa.

The Deputy Speaker, who cautioned legislators against opting for violent means of seeking to debate sensitive matters, said that a dual process of bringing business to the House should be followed.

“The state of the nation address which we are going to give priority very soon is covering all issues you are talking about. I request that we finish constituting the leadership of Committees; tomorrow we finish with the business committee and deal with these issues,” he added.

Tayebwa’s revelation for the debate on the State of the Nation Address followed attempts by some legislators led by Joel Ssenyonyi, Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LOP) to bring out matters related to corruption allegations which are the essence of the youths’ planned protests.

LOP Ssenyonyi showed his discomfort with the way the protest against corruption was blocked by security saying, Parliament is the right place for such voices to be raised as the country continues to receive a lot of allegations of stealing of taxpayers’ money.

“There seems to be double standards within this institution. Last week there were some citizens that came to this parliament with placards protesting against our colleague the Hon. Ssekikubo (Theodore, MP Lwemiyaga County). They came on the first day, second day and on the third day you received them on behalf of the Speaker. Today, there are young people who have been coming to Parliament in similar versions to come and raise concerns corruption. As we speak some have been arrested. I thought you would have received them in a similar manner because they say they have concerns about corruption in Parliament of Uganda and other government entities. I don’t know whether it was an order from your office,” said Ssenyonyi.

Jonathan Odur, Erute South MP while commenting on the persistent corruption allegations against the institution of Parliament, asked leaders including Ministers to emulate President Museveni who recently made stopovers on some of the roads to field and respond to questions by Ugandans.

According to Odur, it is against the national objectives and principles enshrined in the 1995 Constitution to see that people who want to speak about corruption are not accorded space and ample time to air out their concerns.

“We have to fight as MPs to be heard on this floor. As Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Commissioners of Parliament, there are questions to be answered. That is why people wanted to march to Parliament because we their MPs have not provided them with answers. I am not corrupt. All I am requesting is that as people who are holding offices in trust of the people, can we take an initiative to explain to the people of Uganda the questions they are asking us before they take to the streets,” said Odur.

Indeed, most Ugandans are not happy with Parliament after documents allegedly released by anonymous sources within the administration of the House exposed a lot of alleged theft of taxpayers’ money. During the social media exhibition, Speaker Anita Among was pointed out for allegedly living an extravagant life since she was first elected as Deputy Speaker in 2021. She was also on the spot for presiding over the Commission meeting that approved without being debated in Parliament the service awards of UGX400m to three backbench Commissioners and UGX500m to former LOP, Mathias Mpuuga.

MP Ssekikubo has finally secured the requisite 177 signatures to move forward with a censure motion against the four backbench Commissioners accused of corruption. It took efforts by the movers of the motion to traverse the country during recess in hunt for the remaining signatures. It is now a matter of time when the Speaker will decide on the onward processing of the motion.

According to Odur, it is unfair for the electorates to harass their representatives who have been trying their best to seek space to debate issues of corruption where the House has also been accused.

“Mr Speaker, when you retreat to your chambers please find a way because we don’t want these people to hurt us, they have already said if we don’t answer here, they will go to our homes. We have been struggling to bring business to this Parliament to discuss this matter. Why must we raise signatures to come and discuss the issues of corruption?” he asked.

Kampala Central MP, Muhammad Nsereko spoke in support of Ugandans who after being blocked from peacefully marching to Parliament and want now to target homes of leaders they feel are corrupt. He added that it is important the Government addresses the issues of the young people including creation of jobs and other opportunities to bridge the poverty gap.

“I support them to come to your home and ask you why they have not got jobs instead of coming here to come and burn the House,” said Nsereko.

Aringa South MP, Alion Odria, emotionally asked the leadership of Parliament to defend itself on the accusations that have been directed to them. He said that Ugandans will not rest until they hear from Speaker Among, Deputy Speaker Tayebwa and the backbench Commissioners.

“You and Speaker Anita Among have been accused of being corrupt? Today, this country is under panic and they have deployed the military, why don’t you allow us to debate corruption in this House. You need to clean your name, deputy Speaker Anita Among needs to clean her name, the Commissioners need to clean their names and Ministers need to clean their names. If not, we are ready to join the protestors. Why are you running away and why is Anita Among running away from issues of corruption?” asked Odria.

Tayebwa while responding to Odria, directed the Chairperson of the Budget Committee, Patrick Isiagi Opolot and the newly appointed Chairperson of the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, Stephen Baka Mugabi to table documents related to the service award to Commissioners and former LOP on July 30.