Fate Of Uganda's Regional Parliamentary Sittings -Speaker Declines To Heed To LOP's Objection.

The Deputy Speaker of Parliament Rt Hon Thomas Tayebwa has defended the regional sittings organized by Parliament saying the Rules of Procedure of Parliament give the Speaker powers to determine where Parliamentary sittings can be held, which is why, Parliament held sessions at Serena Hotel in the past, and lately, Kololo Independence Grounds, and in all those occasions, MPs have never sought to debate a motion to approve change of venue.

 ThomasTayebwa also denied allegations that Parliament will spend Shs5Bn on the Regional sitting in Northern Uganda, although, he declined to reveal the cost taxpayers will incur for the sitting in Gulu, saying that MPs will be formally informed of the changes next week.

This was after the Leader of Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi and his Shadow Cabinet's objection to the idea of the planned Regional sittings of Parliament in different parts of the country as announced by the Speaker citing wastage of taxpayers money.

The decision prompted Legislators from Acholi, Lango, and Karamoja to expressed dissatisfaction with the Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Joel Ssenyonyi and his shadow cabinet for the decision to boycott regional sittings, starting with Gulu.

They believe that Ssenyonyi should support the move to hold Parliament sessions in their regions, despite the UGX 5 billion cost per session, which Ssenyonyi deems untenable.

"Who sits and approves these things apart from the Parliamentary Commission, which I am a member of and I don’t know? Because if we had sat and discussed and then pour thoughts, whether be in the business Committee are taken care of, and then we come to some kind of understanding," noted Ssenyonyi.

In response the deputy speaker Thomas Tayebwa noted, “Under Rule 7 of the General Authority of the Speaker, the Speaker can determine where the sitting can be held, that is how we go to Kololo, that is how we used to go to Serena (Hotel). 

I can’t remember where we had a motion here, where we first debate and say, we have made a resolution. We are going to inform you formally on Tuesday or Wednesday in the sitting here.

Our role will be to ensure that we bring everyone on board and I know that there are some MPs who were not happy that I denied them the chance to reply to Leader of Opposition, please, these are our issues internally, this shouldn’t be an issue of debate here,” added Thomas Tayebwa.