The Speaker of Uganda’s Rebecca Kadaga has no kind words for Ministers who are found of dodging Parliament to respond to questions raised by electorates through their MPs.
The Speaker requested the MPs to settle for the few ministers willing to respond to the questions, warning that the electorates will judge the Ministers for their dodgy conduct.
She further added that there is nothing else Parliament can do about cabinet’s uncouth conduct.
The Speaker was yesterday responding to a concern raised by Rubaga North MP, Moses Kasibante, who complained of the disrespectful Ministers who failed to show up to answer questions raised by MPs, with these items having remained unanswered for a number of months.
Among the items that remained unanswered included the the importation of foot and mouth disease-stricken heads of cattle from Tanzania and counterfeit acaricide-dextatix from Zimbabwe by a one, Mulindwa; raised by Rwakoojo Gureme Robina, MP Gomba County West. The Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Vincent Ssempijja is supposed to respond to this query.
Power blackout at Nsambya Police Barracks that has lasted over two months and its consequences on the security of the area and its surroundings was raised by Luttamaguzi Paulson Semakula, MP Nakaseke County South and the Minister of Internal Affairs, Jeje Odong is supposed to respond.
The provision of Sanitary Pads to Girl Students raised by Cecilia Atim Ogwal, District Woman Representative, Dokolo is yet to be responded to by Minister for Presidency, Esther Mabyo.
The alleged irregular and fraudulent deductions from emoluments of civil servants in Agago District by some micro finance Institution raised by Akello Franca, District Women Representative, Agago) is also yet to be responded to by Minister of State for Micro Finance, Haruna Kasolo.
The State of fire-fighting equipment of the Uganda Police raised by Ndamira Catherine Atwakire, District Woman Representative, Kabale that was meant to be responded to by Minister of Internal Affairs, Jeje Odong.
The arrest, detention and torture of Atim Jamila Asha by operatives of the Internal Security Organisation [ISO] at a safe house in Kyengera; raised by Wadri Kassiano Ezati, MP Arua Municipality to be answered by Minister of Security, Elly Tumwine.
Blockage of Sironko-Muyembe- Nakapiripirit road due to floods; raised by Anyakun Esther, MP Nakapiripirit by Minister of Works and Transport, Monica Azuba.
The status of the BKK Ferry and attempts to shift the dock from Okile in Kobululu Sub County to Akampala in Ochero Sub County raised by Elijah Okupa, MP Kasilo County was supposed to be answered by Minister of Works and Transport, Monica Azuba.
However, when the Ministers were called to respond, they were no show, prompting the Speaker to register them as absent.
