Uganda’s Security Minister, Gen. Elly Tumwine (pictured) must be a happy man as MPs fear to sign petition to censure him over contempt of parliament.
Whereas the Constitution in article 118 gives Parliament powers to censure a minister, Rule 98(5) of the Rules of Procedure require at least one third of the Members to append their signatures on the list signifying support for the proposed petition.
Apparently, less than 20 lawmakers have signed the petition out of the required about 150 signatures to sign a minister.
It should be noted that last week, Gaffa Mbwatekamwa, Kasambya County MP moved a motion under Rule 98 of the Rules of Procedure to censure Minister Tumwine over contempt of parliament after he was continuously accused of stifling MPs’ oversight role to visit ‘Safe Houses’ in the country.
However, with about 3 working days left, the petition is facing a major setback as MPs decline to sign it.
Addressing the media at parliament on Friday, the movers of the motion admitted that fellow MPs were not responsive, but remain optimistic that they will get the required signatures to censure Gen Tumwine before Thursday next week.
Theodore Ssekikubo (Lwemiyaga County) said it is very pitiful that fellow MPs are giving excuses and putting their hands behind rather than supporting the resolution of parliament by signing the petition.
“They [MPs] passed the resolution, but they are not turning up to sign the petition,” he said.
Rubaga North MP Moses Kasibante said even most members of the Committee on Human Rights that pinned Gen Tumwine including Egunyu Nantume, the chairperson of the committee have not signed the petition.
“It is hardly 5 members of the committee that have signed this petition yet it is their report that prompted the censure motion,” he said, adding: “What is happening to the rest of the committee members and other MPs; they should explain to Ugandans why they have not signed the petition yet they adopted the motion on the floor of Parliament.”
