Summary:
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Persis Namuganza has been censured.
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A total of 356 votes were cast, with 348 favouring censure for the minister, 5 against, and 3 abstaining.
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“The minister declined to appear and defend herself before the committee and the House, instead stating that the case is pending in court and is subjudice.
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Her lawyers agreed with this point of view and tried to end the case for the same reasons.
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Enos Asiimwe mentioned that the minister and the cabinet were absent at today’s meeting.
The Hon. is the Minister of State for Lands, Housing, and Urban Development. Persis Namuganza has been censured.
Out of 356 votes, 348 were in favor of censure for the minister, 5 were against, and 3 didn’t vote.
Even though the Constitution says that a convicted minister should leave his or her job, censured ministers are not required to do so.
Article 118(2) of the Constitution says, “If a vote of censure is taken against a minister, the President shall take appropriate action unless the minister resigns.”
Rule 109 of the Rules of Procedure set up a committee led by Hon. Mwine Mpaka to find out if Namuganza had a case to answer in the affirmative.
The committee agreed that she had broken her oath and that what she did was in line with Article 118 of the Constitution.
According to Mwine Mpaka, the issues raised in the interview [that Hon Namuganza gave to several media outlets] were offensive, careless, intolerable, out of line, and incuriam.
In the committee’s report, it says that he also said, “It was an attack on the person of the Speaker and the Parliament without proper respect for the Rules of Mechanism, the protected position, the procedure for redress, the applicability of privilege, and the decorum of the House.”
The minister didn’t show up to defend herself in front of the committee and the House. Instead, she said the case is still pending in court and can’t be discussed. Her lawyers agreed with this point of view and tried to end the case for the same reasons.
The minister was convicted, according to Hon. Laura Kanushu (PWDs, NRM), of supporting the motion because she broke the rules.
How can you be invited to appear before a parliamentary committee and then refuse to attend? This is not just about Hon. Namuganza; it’s about our rules of procedure. She spoke.
According to Hon. John Okot Amos (NRM, Agago North), Namuganza’s actions diminished the respect that right-thinking citizens had for Parliament.
Hon. Enos Asiimwe mentioned that the minister and the cabinet were absent at today’s meeting.
But Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa said that the Order Paper was published on Friday, January 20, 2023, and that the Executive had not sent a message saying they would not be there.
Rule 109 of the Rules of Procedure says that the Speaker will let the President know what the House has decided within 24 hours. Article 118(2) of the Constitution says that the President will “take the necessary steps.”
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of the Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.
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Analysis by: Advocacy Unified Network
