Speaker Anita Among
The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among on Wednesday suspended 9 Members of Parliament after the chaotic morning sitting that resulted in a fistfight inside the honorable chambers.
“I am proceeding to name the MPs and suspend these members for three consecutive sittings from this House. The Members are suspended with immediate effect from the House,” said Among.
Adding: “I am also evoking Rule 88(2) to order the above MPs to withdraw immediately from the House and according order the Seargent at Arms that they vacate the Chambers and therefore suspend the House for 15 minutes.”
The suspended legislators include Anthony Akol of Kilak North, Wakayima Musoke of Nansana Municipality, Aloysius Mukasa of Rubaga South, Charles Tebandeke of Bbale County, Francis Zaake of Mitanya Municipality and Isiah Sassaga of Budadiri East.
Others include Asinansi Nyakato of Hoima City, Derrick Nyeko of Makindye East, Frank Kabuye of Kasanda South, Evans Kanyike of Bukoto East, Shamim Malende of City and Buvuma DWR Susan Mugabi.
Earlier the Speaker suspend debate for 30 minutes after a confusion that ensued when the Zaake alleged that there was a man with a gun in the house chambers, which is restricted for non members, referred to as strangers.
“Madam Speaker, there is a gun in the house. There is a gun here to intimidate us, and I am concerned as a victim of gun in this house,” said Zaake.
The speaker then sked the Sargent at Arms to subject the accused person to a security check, and it was ascertained there was no gun.
Unconvinced, Zaake went to conduct the search by himself, resulting in an altercation with Kilak South MP, Anthony Akol.
The arguments between Zaake and Akol ensued into a physical fistfight.
The whole house turned chaotic, and the Speaker suspended sitting for 30 minutes.
The mood was already heightened on Wednesday morning as the House is expected to vote and pass the contentious Coffee Amendment Bill.
The opposition and Buganda Caucus are against the Bill and mainly opposed to the mainstreaming of Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) to the Ministry of Agriculture.
The government has, however, maintained that the Coffee Amendment Bill is part of the rationalization of agencies to cut wasteful expenditure and realign service delivery.
