Speaker Anita Among has directed lawmakers to ensure that the 2023/2024 financial year budget addresses matters of public interest.

According to the Public Finance Management Act, Parliament starts the process of consideration of the next year’s financial budget every November, leading to its subsequent approval every month of May, just before the next financial year which starts on 01 July.

According to Among, a mini survey carried out by her office shows that the public’s legislative and budgetary needs for the 2023/2024 financial year include affordable housing t, national health insurance for all Ugandans and the cost and quality of education.

The other areas of focus according to the Speaker will be provision of sanitary towels for all school going girl children, regularisation of labour export and harmonisation of remuneration of public servants, among others.  

“As we embark on the budget process, I urge you to ensure that we allocate funds to those issues such that the public gets to know that we do work for them. If it is the laws that are brought like the one on public health insurance, that is what the public wants,” Among said.

Kinkizi East MP, Hon. James Kaberuka pointed out the need to urgently address the issue of the cost and quality of education saying that teachers are absconding from duty due to poor remuneration.

“I am a teacher by training and I have interacted with teachers; they are not teaching and we are going to have half-baked learners,” said Kaberuka.

He added that budgets of the past two financial years have not catered for rehabilitation and construction of primary school classrooms forcing learners to study under trees.

Hon. Joseph Ssewungu (NUP, Kalungu West County) blamed the challenges in the education sector on the reluctance by the responsible ministers to respond to matters raised by MPs.

“I have raised several issues which have not been responded to by the Minister of Education. We want to know why ministers do not respond to issues raised. If they continue like this, we shall face more challenges,” said Ssewungu.

He warned that if the issues affecting the education sector are not addressed, the country will face dire consequences of an enraged population.

Tororo District Woman MP, Hon. Sarah Opendi added that committees worsen efforts to address issues raised by members by delaying to present reports on motions referred to them.  

“We demand for these reports to be brought here and if the committees cannot bring them, then we proceed and discuss these motions on the Floor,” Opendi said.

In reference to a petition on maternal health which she presented in March, Opendi urged the Speaker to give committees timelines on presentation of reports on motions and petitions.

Relatedly, Among gave a stern warning to legislators against absenteeism, saying that action will be taken against those who miss 15 consecutive sittings according to the Rules of Procedure.

Her warning comes two days after plenary sittings resumed following a one month’s recess.  

“Clerk, I want you to start roll calling from yesterday. We are two days in the House and I get surprised that members are already tired. If you miss, remember we can have by-elections in your constituencies,” said Among.

On Tuesday, 01 November 2022, Among was forced to adjourn the plenary sitting following the absence of the Minister of Local Government at the time of consideration of the Public Accounts Committee report.

“Rule 114 (1) of the Rules of Procedure requires ministers to attend sittings of the House and sub rule 2 of the same rule mandates the Leader of Government Business to ensure attendance,” she said.

The Government Chief Whip, Hon. Hamson Obua apologised and vowed to ensure attendance of the Ministers.

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The Parliamentary Committee on Health has tasked the management of Mulago National Referral Hospital to explain allegations of continued corruption, extortion and fraudulent dealings at the facility.

The management of the hospital led by the Ag. Director, Rosemary Byanyima, on Wednesday appeared before the committee chaired by Dr. Charles Ayume over renovation works, the status of equipment and budget of the facility.

Dr. Ayume asked the management to explain the continued exploitation of Ugandans seeking treatment at the facility citing several cases of extortion and bribery.

“There are a lot of under the table payments, bribes, fraud and extortions at Mulago. Two months ago, one of our colleagues had a patient there and money was charged for blood from the pediatrics unit. That blood was taken to a patient in Cancer Institute,” he said.

He added that the Cancer Institute was absolved of any wrongdoing, which was placed on the Acute Care Unit at the hospital. He said that blood should not be sold and asked the hospital director to stop the vice.

Ayume said that private facilities are illegally carrying out tests and accessing services from Mulago Hospital on behalf of their patients, with the money going to the private doctors.

“There is heavy extortion and corruption. People in the private sector bring their samples to Mulago, samples are ran and then the results are sent to private facilities and money is paid there, what are we doing about this?” Ayume asked.

He said that this money is benefitting people outside the hospital and that there is need to match every person with the services they access.

Dr. Byanyima explained that they are coming up with a system to monitor the access to services in the hospital, including looking at what is done and tests done.

She said that hospital management is tackling the other vices, some of which she blamed on impersonators.

“We appreciate that feedback; it is a real pain but we are really working hard and we condemn this. We have activated CCTV cameras, but we are waiting for the completion of the works of renovation,” she said.

The committee also cast doubt on the efficiency of ROKO to complete the renovation works at Mulago since they are engaged in constructing several other buildings in the country. The MPs said that they did not find the contractors on the site when they visited the hospital.

“I have failed to understand how big this ROKO is because it is everywhere and not doing well,” Dr. Elisa Rutahigwa said.

Mulago administrators however, responded that they are not in charge of procurement, which they said, is done by the Ministry of Health.

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In a bid to promote road safety on roads and reduce injuries, and deaths as a result of motorcycle accidents, Uganda Breweries Limited (UBL) has donated safety gear to 200 BodaBoda operators.

The donation was part of the planned engagements as UBL marked Safety Awareness Week to promote the culture of safety among employees.

According to the Uganda Police 2021 Annual Crime Report, the fatalities among motorcyclists and their passengers were 1,918, reflecting 46 percent of all road accident fatalities. The total number of road fatalities countrywide was 4,159, a 14% increase from 3,663 cases in 2020.

According to the United Nations Road Safety Performance Review, conducted by United Nations Economic Commissions for Europe (UNECE) and Africa (ECA), the overall annual cost of road crashes is currently estimated at approximately Shs 4.4 trillion ($1.2 billion), representing 5% of Uganda’s gross domestic product (GDP).

Speaking at the Road Safety awareness event, UBL Managing Director Andrew Kilonzo said the road safety awareness event is in line with the UBL ‘Society 2030’ sustainability strategy to contribute to sustainable development.

 “We consider health and safety as a fundamental human right. UBL often finds ways to make an impact in society through sharing our best practices, awareness creation, and safety gear donations,” said Kilonzo.

Kilonzo added: “I am glad that participants have also taken part in our ‘Wrong Side of The Road’ training that seeks to advocate against drinking and driving by educating drivers on the potential risks. This, we think will greatly improve safety on our roads.”

The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Deputy Executive Director Eng. David Luyimbazi said that in Kampala, at least one fatal crash occurs on the city’s road network daily.

In a move to reduce the number of road crashes from Kampala, he said KCCA with support from Government and International partners has in place a Road Safety Strategy for 2021-2030 to reduce the number of road crashes in the city by 50% by the year 2030.

“With reduced road crashes, we shall be able to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 11 that respectively seek to halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road accidents by 2030 and provide access to safe, affordable, accessible, and sustainable transport systems for all,” said Luyimbazi.

Kilonzo applauded KCCA for spearheading the development of policies, laws, and regulations that promote road safety in Kampala. He asked BodaBoda cyclists to ensure proper that the donated safety gear to proper use.

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Police has announced that it will launch operations on errant boda-boda riders all-over the country starting next week.

The Traffic Police spokesperson, ASP Faridah Nampiima said effective Monday November 7, 2022, the operation will target motorcycle riders without crash helmets, reflector jackets, driving permits, those carrying more than one passenger and those without driving mirrors.

“Motorcycles have become a menace on the roads. Every time we have five crashes on the road, four of them involve motorcycles. A lot of people are dying on the road with these motorcycles. As we launch the festive season operations, we are to start with motorcycles on November 7,” Nampiima said.

She said according to the Regulation of the Motorcycles 2016, every person is supposed to wear a reflective jacket at all times, both the rider and passenger should wear crash helmets, and the motorcycle should have third party insurance among others.

“We are to target and arrest them effective Monday. We urge all Ugandans to stand with us to fight the vice of crashes by boda bodas on the roads. The boda bodas don’t know the traffic signs and regulations. We need to ensure we enforce the law so that they follow rules and regulations,” She said.

She explained that boda boda cyclists who don’t understand the basic road rules and regulations will be taught through community policing.

The operation intended to kick off next week follows the release of a CCTV video by police earlier this week, in which graphic details show accidents involving boda-bodas during October.

Boda-boda accidents remain the largest contributor to fatal accidents, in which at least an average of 1,918 people are killed annually, according to the 2021 Annual Crime and Traffic/Road Safety report. This stands at an average of four deaths per day.

On Saturday, State Minister for Lands Sam Mayanja’s daughter Belinda Birungi was knocked while riding on a boda-boda along Stretcher Road, Ntinda.

The boda-boda rider died on the spot while Birungi was rushed to hospital in critical condition before she was pronounced dead moments later.

The Speaker of Parliament Anita Among held a meeting with the Deputy Inspector General of Police Maj Gen Tumusiime Katsigazi on Tuesday and urged him to solve the boda-boda accidents crisis that continues to claim innocent lives.

“We face a crisis, especially on Kampala roads as a result of reckless boda-boda riders. We must address it forthwith. You need to take critical steps to reverse this devastating trend and save lives on our roads,” she said, noting that police should also find long-term solutions to solve the issue of road carnage, through tightening enforcement and traffic guidelines to curb errant road users.

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Enid Zawedde has received a brand new car Toyota Sienta after participating in the Wangula Emotoka Bancassurance campaign.

Zawedde, a Customer Experience Executive at Absa Bank met the steep target that was set for them. She was able to deliver 26 policies at Shs 109 million in a four months campaign which was conducted by Absa and Jubilee Insurance Uganda.

 “Congratulations for not only encouraging our customers to take insurance but at the same time encouraging them to persist on them. That is what we do. We ensure that insurance is part and parcel of our customers’ experience. Well done.” Sumit Kumar, the Managing Director of Jubilee Insurance Uganda said.

Michael Segwaya, the Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer for Absa applauded Jubilee Insurance for awarding their staff with a car. “Thank you for the partnership, the fact that you know it’s exciting when we work together and make these deals happen. And the fact that we can celebrate colleagues this much I really want to thank you,” he said.

“We really looking forward to greater things, greater partnerships and for the bancassurance team. I have been around for some time but it’s not very often if not the first time that I’m giving car,” he said.

He said bancassurance is on, and we need to do business. The world we are in today is about partnership. Let’s execute our goals. And I’m looking forward to this season that is coming through.

“It is easy to sell an insurance policy. But there is another thing to encourage the customer to maintain the policy and continue to support our policy so that he or she can benefit really from that from the outcome of the policy” Musa Jallow, retail director at Absa bank said.

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