Rakai Woman MP, Juliet Kinyamatama’s desire to introduce a private member’s bill, the Public Holidays Amendment Bill aimed at amending article 94(4) of the constitution of Uganda has been rejected by fellow MPs after they denied her leave to draft it.
The Bill’s main objective was to push all public holidays falling weekends to working days, with Kinyamatama (pictured) saying the constitution empowers Parliament to make laws for the peace, order, development and good governance of Uganda.
During yesterday’s plenary sitting, the lawmaker defended her motion, saying that the Public Holidays Act Cap 255 specifies public holidays that are kept and observed in Uganda including those declared by the President under the same Act and their respective days when they were crafted and that it is an international practice for public holidays to be celebrated to be observed through public celebrations and call for citizen participation because the day deserves recognition, honour and visibility
“Appreciating that public holidays not only provide citizens with an opportunity to participate but also enable them to take off some time and rest. Concerned that in some incidences fall on Saturday or Sunday which are already designated days of rests, public holidays may not be given their desired recognisition, honour and visibility, some may go unnoticed,” said Kinyamatama.
The Rakai Woman MP said that there is need to make amendments into the law in order to ensure a continued recognisition and visibility, it is necessary to have public holidays that fall on a weekend be observed on a a working day to stop them from interfering with other activities like prayers, marriage celebrations
“The observance of public holidays on weekdays will help improve their visibility and as a result build a strong sense of nationalism, togetherness but also accord citizens an opportunity to rest,” said Kinyamatama.
However, MPs projected the move, saying it will instead promote laziness.
When Speaker Rebecca Kadaga put to vote a question on whether Kinyamatama should be allowed to present her private member’s bill, MPs rejected the ploy, marking and end to her ploy.
