Three of the six MPs who were suspended by Speaker Rebecca Kadaga in December 2017 over the controversial age limit bill return tomorrow, Deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanyah has informed the House.
According to Oulanyah, Anthony Akol, Ibrahim Ssemujju and Gerald Karuhanga, all of who had been suspended for three sittings, return to work tomorrow while Allan Ssewanyana, Jonathan Odur and Mubarak Munyagwa, who had been suspended for seven sittings, will reseme their duties on Wednesday, January 17, 2018.
Oulanyah also called for unity among all players across the political divide, in light of the signing into law of the sharply divisive Age Limit Bill by President Yoweri Museveni.
His remarks came after members of the leading Opposition party, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) urged Ugandans to shun MPs that championed expunging of age limit clause in the Constitution.
In that respect the Deputy Speaker urged all MPs to put their differences behind and work to fulfill the expectations of their voters.
“I urge members to work together not divide, to see that we fulfill the expectations of our people as Parliamentarians in carrying out our oversight works, representations. We should promote harmony, understanding, dialogue and engage ourselves other than doing the contrary,” Oulanyah implored.
The Deputy Speaker noted that 2017 was a very challenging for Uganda’s Parliament, and implored the MPs to work collectively to ensure that the unbecoming incidences don’t ever recur.
“I urge the leadership of Leader of Opposition, Prime Minister and all Whips to dialogue that we shouldn’t execute our responsibilities effectively and efficiently but also ensure all parties across political divide coexist because they need each other,” Oulanyah said, and argued that it is time for all parties to dialogue.
His remarks were in resonance with the September 27, 2017 brawl that occurred in the Parliament chambers where plain clothed security operatives sieged the house and violently ejected opposition MPs.
The violent exchange between MPs opposed to lifting of Presidential Age Limit and security forces followed a communication by Kadaga, suspending 25 MPs over what she termed as ‘indiscipline’.
