Plenary is set to resume today a week after it was adjourned sine die by Speaker Anita Among who asked the government to provide a definitive position on the local council leaders’ elections since the tenure of the current ones expired on July 10.
The resumption of the plenary was communicated through the Parliament’s Directorate of Communication and Public Affairs which runs the House’s official Twitter handle before the order paper was issued.
“The House #PlenaryUg resumes tomorrow [today], Thursday, 27 July 2023 at 10.00 am,” the message on Parliament’s Twitter handle reads in part.
Last week, Speaker Among adjourned House, just about an hour after she had commenced proceedings. Prior to this, she had repeatedly asked the government side to prepare and table specific decisions that would inform the government’s next move to local council leaders.
The Attorney General, Mr Kiryowa Kiwanuka on Tuesday appeared before the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee where he reported that the cabinet directed that elections for LCI and LCII be delayed for another month. Mr Kiryowa also indicated that the cabinet had decided to extend the tenure of the administration in the said positions since organising for the same polls would require a minimum of three months.
According to him, the details would be contained in a Statutory Instrument No.63 of 2003 “The Local Government (Amendment of the Third Schedule Instrument) that will be tabled by the Minister for Local Government.
Details of today’s Order Paper indicate that the House is slated to commence at 10 am with council elections listed as item number four.
In an interview with this publication, the vice chairperson of the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee that interfaced with Mr Kiryowa on the matter, Mr Yusuf Mutembuli welcomed the government decision.
“I think that is why we are now resuming as Parliament to consider that instrument. I think we shall have further discussion on the contents of that instrument as Parliament,” Mr Mutembuli said.
He added: “From the interaction with the Attorney General, I think we were convinced and satisfied looking at the law.”
He also dismissed claims that there was friction between the legislature and executive wing over the elections.
“It is a win for Ugandans, not Parliament [because] we’re part of the government and we were only advising the government to move faster than expected,” Mr Mutembuli said.
