Africa-Press – Uganda. PARLIAMENT IN 2020 | HIGHS AND LOWS
January 14, 2020:
NRM Blocks Rebel MPs from Party Conference. The 31 MPs who defiantly voted against the lifting of the presidential age limit were locked out of the National Conference — the top-most party organ.
January 14, 2020:
MP Ssekikubo re-arrested. The police arrested Lwemiyaga County MP Theodore Ssekikubo barely a day after court granted him bail.
January 17, 2020:
Speaker probes cryptocurrency saga. The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga investigated circumstances under which Dunamiscoins Resource Limited disguised as a microfinance institution and fleeced billions of shillings from unsuspecting Ugandans.
March 04, 2020:
Workers call for MPs’ support on NSSF Bill. Workers asked Members of Parliament (MPs) to support their demands when the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Amendment Bill, 2019 is tabled. NV040320pg05
March 05, 2020:
MPs reject introduction of committee under EC. Parliament rejected a proposal by the Government for establishment of an electoral reform committee chaired by the secretary to the Electoral Commission (EC). NV060320pg06
March 05, 2020:
Parliament summons ministers Tumwine, Kabatsi, Rwamirama. The parliamentary committee on agriculture summoned Gen. Elly Tumwine, ministers Joy Kabatsi and Bright Rwamirama to explain circumstances surrounding the closure of cattle markets in Lwemiyaga county. NV060320pg06
March 11, 2020:
Govt seeks loan approval for Kampala-Jinja expressway. The Government has tabled before Parliament a sh1.2 trillion loan request to finance the construction of Kampala-Jinja Expressway. The road is a proposed 77.09km four-lane toll highway from Kampala to Jinja. NV120320pg06
March 11, 2020:
Parliament flags off ‘Save Rwizi walk’. MPs on the natural resources and environment committee flagged off a team of 14 people to walk 330km in a drive aimed at creating awareness regarding the near-extinct River Rwizi. NV120320pg06
March 11, 2020:
Auditor General pins House over supplementary budget. The Auditor General (AG) faulted Parliament for approving ministerial supplementary budgets contrary to the Appropriation Act 2018. NV120320pg06
March 11, 2020:
National IDs: MPs put NIRA on the spot. Parliament expressed concern over the pain Ugandans go through to get national identity cards (IDs). NV130320pg07
April 09, 2020:
Parliament gets sh10b for Covid-19. Parliament approved over sh10b for the Parliamentary Commission to cater for activities geared at containing the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) spread in the country. NV090420pg08
March 12, 2020:
MP thrown out of House over coronavirus scare. The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, ordered Kilak North County MP Anthony Akol to vacate the chambers after the legislator disclosed to the House that he had just returned from South Korea, one of the high-risk countries for the coronavirus. NV130320pg06
March 19, 2020:
Parliament stops visits, sends staff home. Parliament suspended all public tours and limited visits to Parliament by members of the public for the next 30 days as one of the measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. NV200320pg04
April 15, 2020:
Improve health facilities, Parliament Health Committee tells government. The Parliament health committee chairperson, Dr. Michael Bukenya, expressed disappointment over government’s failure to use the lessons learnt from the coronavirus pandemic to commit adequate resources to improve health facilities. NV150420pg08
April 16, 2020:
Parliament approved sh100,000 tax on professional services. Parliament approved the Stamp Duty (Amendment) Bill 2020, in which, among other things, the Government proposed a sh100,000 fee on every professional for offering professional services. NV160420pg09
April 17, 2020:
Parliament exempts agriculture inputs from VAT. Parliament exempted key agricultural inputs from Value Added Tax (VAT) to enable farmers acquire machinery at friendly prices for increased production. NV170420pg09
April 18, 2020:
MPs reject rental income tax. Parliament rejected a proposal from the Government to increase taxes on commercial buildings and land transactions that were meant to generate more revenue to fund the National Budget for 2020/2021 financial year. NV180420pg03
April 22, 2020:
Court blocks MPs’ sh10b. Court blocked the Parliamentary Commission from paying sh10b to Members of Parliament (MPs) to fight COVID-19. NV220420pg10
April 29, 2020:
Museveni warns MPs over sh10b Covid-19 cash. President Yoweri Museveni asked MPs to provide accountability and value for money accruing from the sh10b coronavirus cash, which they shared. NV290420pg05
April 29, 2020:
Parliament approves creation of 15 cities. Parliament passed the government’s motion for the creation of 15 new cities. The cities would come to life in a phased manner. NV290420pg08
June 01, 2020:
EC procures ballot papers. The Electoral Commission embarked on the procurement of ballot papers to be used for the presidential, parliamentary and local government council elections. NV010620pg06
June 03, 2020:
Parliament passes bill granting retired Judges monthly pay. Parliament passed the Administration of Judiciary Bill, 2018 where Chief Justices and Deputy Chief Justices would continue receiving a monthly allowance, equivalent to the salaries of their counterparts in service, for life after retiring from service. NV030620pg07
June 03, 2020:
Kadaga treated me unfairly, says Oulanyah. Deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanyah, complained about the way the Speaker, Rebecca Kadaga, treated him during debate on a motion against President Yoweri Museveni. NV030620pg07
June 16, 2020:
Besigye, Bobi launch joint plan. Opposition leaders Col. Kizza Besigye and Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine agreed to conduct joint activities ahead of the 2021 general elections. NV160620pg01&08
June 17, 2020:
EC unveils new 2021 polls roadmap, bars public rallies. The Electoral Commission (EC) unveiled the elections roadmap and announced that there would be no campaign rallies and all candidates in the forthcoming polls would canvass for votes through the media. NV170620pg01&08
June 18, 2020:
House asks government for 6-month waiver on water, electricity bills. Parliament passed a motion asking government to waive water and power bills for six months. NV180620pg08
June 22, 2020:
NRM party’s finance chief fired as Museveni names 4 new party bosses. President Yoweri Museveni, the chairman National Resistance Movement (NRM), named four new NRM party secretariat directors, replacing the party’s long serving director of finance and administration, Dr. Hassan Ggaliwango. NV220620pg01&07
June 24, 2020:
Legislators want electoral laws amended for scientific elections. Members of Parliament protested against new guidelines by the Electoral Commission (EC) providing for scientific elections. NV240620pg07
June 25, 2020:
Members of Parliament okay Coffee Bill. Members of Parliament on the Agriculture Committee okayed the National Coffee Bill, 2018, which sought to overhaul the coffee sector. NV250620pg11
August 03, 2020:
MPs reject govt proposal to tax savings of NSSF members. Members of Parliament on the committees of finance and gender rejected a proposal by government to tax the savings of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) members. NV030820pg05
August 04, 2020:
Parliament Legal Committee approves restoration of Presidential Term Limits. The Legal and Parliamentary affairs Committee approved the proposal for the restoration of Presidential Term Limits which were removed in 2005. NV040820pg08
August 05, 2020:
Elderly people to be represented in parliament. The elderly people will be represented in the 11th Parliament after the August House passed the Parliamentary Elections Amendment Bill, which provides for the creation of five parliamentary seats for the elderly. NV050820pg09
August 07, 2020:
Parliament passes bill to overhaul coffee sector. Parliament passed into law the National Coffee Bill, 2018, which, among others, will require all coffee farmers to register. NV070820pg10
August 10, 2020:
Parliament rejects Sh622b loan for irrigation. Parliament has deferred the approval of $169.2m (sh622b) loan request by the Government from the International Development Alliance (IDA) of the World Bank Group. NV100820pg08
August 26, 2020:
OWINY-DOLLO APPROVED AS NEW CHIEF JUSTICE. Parliament’s appointments committee chaired by the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, vetted and approved the newly appointed Chief Justice (CJ), Alphonse Chigamoy Owiny-Dollo, replacing retired Chief Justice Bart Katureebe. Supreme Court Judge Richard Buteera was also approved for the position of Deputy Chief Justice. NV270820pg15
August 26, 2020:
WORKERS’ MP LYOMOKI SLEEPS IN PARLIAMENT OVER DELAYED NSSF BILL. Workers’ MP Dr Sam Lyomoki spent a night in the Parliamentary chambers protesting what he described as the delayed passing of the National Social Security (NSSF) Amendment Bill. NV280820pg11
August 27, 2020:
KIWANDA SHEDS TEARS AS HE PULLS OUT OF RACE. State minister for tourism Godfrey Kiwanda shed tears as he announced that he had pulled out of the Mityana North parliamentary race. NV280820pg13
August 31, 2020:
Parliament apologises to MP Kyagulanyi over birth date. Parliament apologized to Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi for having changed records of his year of birth on Parliament’s website from 1982 to 1980. NV310820pg10
October 06, 2020:
MPs grill Katumba over DRC roads budget. Members of Parliament on the budget committee questioned Government’s decision to construct 223km of roads connecting to major towns in eastern DR Congo. NV061020pg06
October 07, 2020:
Parliament queries sh60.8b digital tax stamps project. Finance officials had a hard time explaining why Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) paid sh60.8b to a Swiss company — SICPA against Parliament’s resolution not to do so. NV071020pg08
October 08, 2020:
Parliament approves sh111b loan for water supply in rural areas. Parliament has approved a government request to borrow $30m (sh111b) from the Exim Bank of India to fund the establishment of solar-powered water-pumping systems for in rural sub-counties with the lowest water coverage. NV081020pg08
November 21, 2020:
KADAGA WANTS POST-MORTEM REPORT OF DECEASED MP. The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, has summoned the Ministry of Health to report to the House and give a post-mortem report on the cause of death of MP Rehema Watongola. NV211120pg05
November 21, 2020:
Parliament rejects sh360b radio deal for learners. Parliament rejected the proposal by the education ministry to purchase nine million radios for learners, currently out of school as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. NV211120pg05
November 23, 2020:
MPS PROBE 568 MISSING LAND TITLES IN MASAKA. The parliamentary committee on natural resources has started investigations into the disappearance of 568 land titles in Masaka district. NV231120pg07
November 23, 2020:
2021 POLLS: OVER 18,900 CANDIDATES UNOPPOSED. A total of 18,974 candidates sailed through the 2021 parliamentary and local government council race unopposed, according to the Electoral Commission (EC). NV231120pg01&10
