Members of Parliament will today vote on the Genetically Engineering Regulatory Bill 2018 and the Creation of New Counties today.
Speaker Rebecca Kadaga has called upon all MPs to attend today’s plenary sitting to vote on the above matters today.
In 2018, Parliament y passed a Bill intended to provide a regulatory framework that facilitates the safe development and application of biotechnology in Uganda.
The Bill, formerly called the National Biotechnology and Biosafety Bill, 2012 was renamed the Genetic Engineering Regulatory Bill 2018 following a recommendation by the President, who declined to assent to the proposed law raising 12 issues that required improvement. Parliament initially passed the Bill in 2017.
However, President Yoweri Museveni again refused to assent to the bill and instead suggested a number of proposals that needed to be addressed for the benefit of scientists and community.
The President’s letter to Speaker Kadaga read in part, “I would like to thank all the various stakeholders who have contributed to the development of this law I however regret to inform you that I reject the law in its current form, I am unable to ascent to it for reasons I elaborate in this letter.”
Kadaga said that among the issues that the President wanted addressed include benefit sharing between the breeder, inventor and indigenous communities, scope of the law, isolation measures, use of poisons and dangerous enzymes and bacteria, strict liability among others.
The President cautioned Parliament to proceed reviewing of the bill with caution and include the necessary safe guards in the law, blaming Parliament’s failure to consider his earlier recommendations when the bill was returned on MPs’ narrow interpretation of Parliament procedure which saw lawmakers delete a number of clauses that were debated on the floor.
“Some of the critical issues I raised in my previous communication haven’t been fully addressed. The issue of GMOs and genetic modification of our seeds, livestock and now I hear GMO mosquitoes that’s not only science, ecology and agriculture which are a risk to national security, food security and sovereignty of our nation,” read in part Museveni’s letter.
The Bill was re-tabled in late 2019.
On creation of new constituencies, Cabinet three weeks ago approved the creation of new counties including Kiboga West, Buhweju West, Lamwo East, Bugangaizi South, Chekwi East, Mulanda county , and Buwekula South.
Others are Kwania North, Buyanja East, Kagoma North, Ngariam county , Agago West, Bukanga North, Bukimbiri county and Nakaseke South.
Kadaga said the two issues should be debated and disposed of today.
