Speaker Among suspends Parliament

House Speaker Anita Among has suspended parliamentary plenary sessions, just a day after MPs returned from recess.

Hon Among on Thursday directed the Parliamentary Clerk, Adolf Mwesigye to communicate the suspension.

Plenary will resume on Tuesday next week according to the communique published by the Clerk.

“I have been directed by the Rt Hon Speaker that Plenary has been called off until Tuesday 30 July 2024 at 2:00 pm” Mwesigye announced on Wednesday.

The speaker gave no reason for the house suspension.

Parliament under pressure
It however comes amid mounting pressure on the parliament, which peaked yesterday with the arrest of dozens of youth who attempted to march to the parliamentary building to protest against corruption in the legislative arm of government.

The House plenary yesterday was chaired by Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa who faced angry reactions from some MPs when he tried to prevent debate about the “March to Parliament’ protest.

Tayebwa argued that the public was wrongfully targeting Parliament because it is not the root cause of Uganda’s problems.

“Parliament has been made the face of corruption and the picture has been painted for example; I don’t have a job because Parliament is stealing money,” he said.

“Parliament’s budget isn’t even 1% of the national budget, so, are people failing to get roads because of Parliament? Are people failing to get jobs because of Parliament? Are people failing to get schools because of Parliament? Are we failing to get pay rise because of Parliament?

“ I think we must sit and agree that some people want to stand on the moral high ground, then Parliament, we look like we are the face of corruption in the country. And it can’t spare any of us- Tayebwa, Deputy Speaker,” he added.

However, the house will sit tomorrow, Thursday to pay special tribute to the later Simon Peter Aleper, the former MP for Moroto Municipality who perished in a car crash yesterday.