The newly appointed Third Deputy Prime Minister and Minister without Portfolio, Rukia Nakadama, has pledged to address the persistent absence of ministers from parliamentary sittings. She noted that absenteeism by ministers from Parliament’s plenary has previously undermined the government’s business and should not be allowed to continue in the 12th Parliament.
Nakadama made the remarks shortly after appearing before Parliament’s Appointments Committee, which on Monday begun vetting 46 nominees by President Yoweri Museveni to serve in the new Cabinet. Speaking to journalists after her vetting, Nakadama said one of the areas that requires urgent attention is coordination between the Executive and Parliament, particularly ensuring that ministers attend plenary sittings to respond to questions and handle government business.
“There are things that need to change in the Office of the Prime Minister,” Nakadama said. “I have been attending Parliament, and ministers have not been attending. They usually don’t come through as expected.”
She noted that Parliament has on several occasions been forced to wait for ministers who are required to respond to questions from legislators or table government business, creating delays in the House.
According to Nakadama, the Office of the Prime Minister intends to establish a roster system that will clearly assign ministers responsibility for attending parliamentary sittings. “We are going to come up with a roster for whoever is going to be in Parliament because ministers have to answer questions and table Bills. Sometimes Parliament has had to wait for them,” she said.
The veteran politician stressed that the situation should not be repeated in the new parliamentary term. “This should not happen in the 12th Parliament,” she added. The issue of ministerial absenteeism has long been a source of frustration among Members of Parliament, who frequently complain about delays in receiving responses to questions and the absence of government representatives during debates on key matters.
Nakadama’s comments came as Parliament’s Appointments Committee continued vetting Cabinet and ministerial nominees. The exercise covers 46 nominees, including Deputy Prime Ministers Rebecca Kadaga, Crispus Kiyonga and Nakadama herself, as well as ministers designated to head key government portfolios.
Among those appearing before the committee are Finance Minister Henry Musasizi, Defence Minister Kiryowa Kiwanuka, Health Minister Chris Baryomunsi, Attorney General Sam Mayanja, Water and Environment Minister Kahinda Otafiire, Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara and Information Minister Justine Kasule Lumumba.
The committee’s approval is required before the nominees can formally assume office. President Yoweri Museveni, during his inauguration said this term of office, dubbed “Kisanja nomore sleep” should be able to improve the economic status of the communities. Museveni threatened to sack ministers who may not be able to meet the needs of this kisanja.
In the schedule for today’s vetting seession that ends at 2:00pm, the committeee is expected to interface with more than half of the cabinet. There are 81 ministers appointed by the President in the list that came out last week. So far, more than 30 have already appeared before the Parliament’s Appointments Committee chaired by the Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Marksons Oboth-Oboth-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
